PLANS to spend €8 million (£5.5m) to inform citizens about a new European constitution — before referendums are held in some member states — were announced yesterday by the European Commission.

The move was denounced as propaganda by eurosceptics, who also fear that President Bush, on his visit to Europe next week, will support the constitution to help Tony Blair.

Commission funds will pay for leaflets, videos and other presentations to be targeted at countries with high levels of ignorance about the constitution.

Jens Peter-Bonde, a Danish eurosceptic, said: “A public body shouldn’t be providing propaganda. If they want to provide comments on the constitution, they should give equal comments for a ‘yes’ side and a ‘no’ side.”

But a commission spokesman denied bias. “We don’t want to get involved in national debates. We are providing factual information. We are not going to campaign for a yes vote. We will provide everything but propaganda.”

The commission had earmarked more than €650,000 for Britain, but the Government has made it clear that it does not want European money. “We don’t want any of this money spent in the UK. It would clearly be utterly counterproductive,” an official said.

Conservative MEPs were told by Washington that one of Mr Bush’s speeches next week will offer support to the constitution in order to help to win referendums in the three most eurosceptic countries — Britain, Poland and the Czech Republic. “What can Bush do for his British friend? It is a clever way of rewarding him, giving him what he wants, which is the ability to win the referendum.” Daniel Hannan, a Tory MEP, said.

Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, signalled support for the constitution during her visit to Europe last week, declaring that it was “a very good development.”

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