Isn't a free market with undistorted competition the reason we joined Europe in the first place? Isn't this the reason we put up with all of the pettifogging bureaucracy, the needless interference in our domestic affairs, the ridiculous Common Agricultural Policy, the lack of democratic accountability and the two parliament buildings to appease the French. Now it seems that the very reason we joined is to disappear again to appease the French.

Other nations which have been quite happy to take over British companies have fought tooth and nail to resist the same happening to their companies using all kinds of specious reasoning to do so. Now they want it inserted in a treaty so that the ECJ will be able to give it legal sanction.

Many have wondered if we wouldn't be better off outside the EU. Soon we'll be struggling to find a reason to stay in.

Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK

Haha - brilliant! So now one of the key aspects that the British actually said "yes" to back in the seventies is being killed off, leaving us with a social Europe rather than an undistorted, common market.

No doubt Blair will overlook this, sign on the dotted line and come back declaring a huge triumph for Britain.

It is essential that the opposition and the population in general force ratification of this constit...er...treaty by referendum. On the EU we are now so far removed from a democratic process that it is no longer credible!

Niels, Paris, France

This change to the original principles of the treaty is not only a disaster for France and those people who voted for Sarkozy but a major disaster for those EEC nationals who have moved to France to buy property and start businesses. It is clear that french protectionism is forcing many "immigres" as the french rudely describe them to return to their home territories. For Sarkozy to do this just after a landslide series of elections just shows that the french cannot be trusted on any aspect to do with free trade, defence and foreign policy. If this situation is allowed to continue then we should say "au revoir" to the EEC constitution and free trade as we know it.

Richard Hoblyn FSI, Limoges, France