The European Constitution adopted at Lisbon allowed, for the first time, for the official use of symbols of the EU such as a flag and an anthem.

So when the Irish rejected the treaty, you would have thought that would put a stop to the idea.

Not a bit of it. The European Parliament has now voted to increase the usage of all the symbols of the state, regardless of the Irish vote.

It is not only anti-democratic, but offensive to the peoples of Europe that proponents of a federal state should try to force us against our will to honour a flag and Anthem to which we owe no allegiance.

SYED KAMALL MEP

London