TONY BLAIR today hails a new pro-American free trade alliance in the European Union between Britain and the eight former communist states who join tomorrow.

With President Chirac of France issuing a warning that Britain could be forced to leave the EU if voters reject the new constitution in a referendum, Mr Blair controversially and enthusiastically embraces the new entrants.

He claims that they will give a “new push” to Britain’s reform agenda in Europe and the British way of running the economy.

Writing in The Times, Mr Blair says that the East European states are keenly aware of the role that the United States played in helping them to achieve their freedom “and are determined to maintain its partnership with the EU”.

Lining up firmly with the countries labelled by Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, as new Europe, Mr Blair emphasises the strong ties at all levels between Britain and the accession states and their peoples, “forged in many cases through our shared sacrifice”.

English is the second language in most of the countries and “importantly we also share the same vision for Europe’s future direction”.

It should be no surprise that countries which have only recently regained their freedom should be “determined to preserve this independence within the EU”.

He adds: “Having just escaped from the dead-hand of communism, they share the British view that their future prosperity rests on a liberal, competitive economy.”

On the eve of the biggest expansion in EU history, he says: “I believe the new members will help us to ensure Europe is ready to meet the difficult challenges of the future.”

He tells the new members: “Britain will be your allies and partners in making the new Europe work, just as we were proud to be on your side as you worked towards EU membership.”

Mr Blair’s decision to claim the new arrivals — Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta — as allies of Britain marks a clear move to go on the front foot in the long battle ahead to win a referendum.

He will argue that just as it is right to bring in the new members because it is good for them, for Europe and above all for Britain, so it should be right to approve the treaty that will make the European Union work better after accommodating them.

The accession will be marked by a ceremony attended by all heads of government in Dublin tomorrow. Mr Blair’s words will be seen as an attempt to position himself as the leading champion of the new group, although in practice there will obviously be times when the new members see it as more in their interests to align with Germany or France. Mr Blair has been careful to court the new entrants, making a visit to Poland last year.

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