Treaty charts the course for Europe

Sir: We write in support of the EU Reform Treaty, and believe that the UK's best interest lies in a fully committed membership of the EU. The treaty is a sensible response to the EU's enlargement, which has increased membership to 27 members.

The enlargements of 2004 and 2007, encompassing the former communist countries of eastern Europe, have had a galvanising effect on the EU. The EU's efforts to promote economic and political reform have transformed these countries. The UK should be proud of its role as the champion of enlargement and the Reform Treaty equips the EU to continue with a policy of enlargement.

The treaty will enable EU institutions to be more efficient and effective. Many of the measures it includes will play directly into the UK's national interest, including an increase in the UK's voting weight in the Council of Ministers by 45 per cent, and moves to majority voting in areas such as energy liberalisation. Ending the rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers will provide more continuity and was a British proposal in origin.

This treaty has faced many inaccurate and exaggerated claims. It will not jeopardise the UK's seat on the UN Security Council, for example. Instead of hyperbolic claims about a federal superstate, we should focus on the challenges ahead, such as climate change, international development and economic competitiveness. We oppose both economic protectionism and its twin, political isolationism, and believe that this Reform Treaty is in the UK's and the EU's interests.

Catherine Fieschi, Director, Demos, Charles Grant, Director, Centre for European Reform, Ian Kearns, Deputy Director, Institute for Public Policy Research, Mark Leonard, Executive Director, European Council on Foreign Relations, Roger Liddle, Vice-Chair, Policy Network, Roland Rudd, Chairman, Business for New Europe, Sir Stephen Wall, London EC2