Bush spreekt zorgen uit over Europese Grondwet (en)

According to The Sunday Times, US President George Bush will use a forthcoming visit to the UK to express American fears over the EU Constitution.

The President, whose visit to Britain begins on 18 November, will seek assurances that the draft Constitution will not create a federal "superstate", according to the paper.

Although American officials concede that the debate on the Constitution is "probably none of our business", this comes at a time when EU-US relations are strained by trade disputes, disagreements over the US Iraq policy and NATO.

Also, some people in the US administration are said to be worried about the emergence of a new bloc dominated by French and German interests.

Growing pressure on Blair

The US concerns come as domestic pressure is mounting on UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to hold a referendum on the Constitution.

A new poll by the pressure group Democracy Movement showed that 273 out of the 457 MPs who have given their view on the matter favour a popular vote.

Another pressure group, Vote 2004, says that 88 percent of people want to be given the chance to vote on the new Constitution.