The Conservatives risk being unable to shape the European Union because they are seen as hostile to the whole organisation, according to a former Tory deputy prime minister.

Geoffrey Howe is among a group of senior Tories who say "vast numbers" of Conservatives share their pro-European views, despite the Euroscepticism Tory leadership.

Former Prime Minister John Major has given his "wholehearted" support to proposals from Lord Howe and other ex-ministers designed to make the EU easier for its citizens to understand.

Michael Heseltine and Ken Clarke are among the Tories pushing for a new document setting out the limits between the EU and the powers of member states.

'Vast support'

The group has sent a memo about its EU reform proposals to ex-French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who is chairing the convention looking at how to prepare the EU for 10 new members.

Mr Major did not sign the memo but has backed the proposals.

In the memo, the group says: "We know that our approach has the support of vast numbers of Conservatives, even though their voice may not have been heard loudly in the recent past."

Howe says the Tories must be constructive

Lord Howe cited as evidence of that claim the large support for Ken Clarke's unsuccessful leadership challenge last year.

He told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme that it was "urgently necessary" for the Conservative view to be put in Europe.

"If it is put from the sidelines, from a position of near hostility to the whole organisation, which is the impression so often given by a large part of our party, then it doesn't have any impact."

Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith was one of the Maastricht rebels that troubled John Major's European policy.

'Debate welcome'

But Lord Howe thought Mr Duncan Smith might come to take a more "positive" stance in the future.

David Heathcoat-Amory, the Conservative MP on the European reform convention, said there was no attempt to shut down Tory debate on the issue.

Indeed, he welcomed the contribution of Lord Howe and his group in the drive to bridge the gap between Europe's leaders and its citizens.

Heathcoat-Amory: No attempt to shut down debate

"It has got some good ideas but it simply does not measure up to the scale of that democratic crisis," said Mr Heathcoat-Amory.

Others who joined Lord Howe in signing the memo included former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd, and ex-ministers John Gummer, Leon Brittan, David Curry and Ian Taylor.

The pro-European Tory memo does not go as far as Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's call for an EU constitution, something the Tory leadership argued would lead to a European super state.

Core philosophy

They say a new declaration should "set out the principles (such as subsidiarity) determining when the EU should act and when decisions should be left to member states.

"The declaration of principles should be enshrined in the Treaty as the document embodying the philosophy informing all the EU institutions".

The group argue it would be a mistake for the EU to evolve into a "fully federal state".

But they add that where things can only be achieved together, the EU "must have the competence and effectiveness to act for and on behalf of the citizens of the member states".

Major's backing

They also want a council of national parliament to decide whether proposed European laws go too far.

And the nations flagrantly breaking European court decisions should face being denied access to EU programmes or to losing voting rights.

John Major - whose premiership was blighted by party feuds over Europe - said: "Although not a signatory to the memorandum I write to say that I endorse its contents wholeheartedly.

"It does, I think, represent the views of very many Conservative supporters and is a positive and well thought out contribution to the work of your Convention."