By Guto Thomas BBC Wales Europe Correspondent

The new constitution has arisen from EU expansion

That was a phrase used by a number of assembly members as they took part in an hour-long debate on "matters relating to the European Union."

But as each AM made five-minute speeches to a half-empty chamber, the impression in the press gallery was that there was considerable confusion among the politicians too.

The debate began with a bold and brave statement from First Minister Rhodri Morgan, that there was "widespread support" for the new EU constitution in Wales. This prompted a quick-fire response from the Conservatives, as Alun Cairns demanded to know "what's the evidence?"

Karen Sinclair lunged for her handbag, and escorted the screeching mobile from the chamber

There were a wide range of potential responses, ranging from opinion polls, to official surveys, or even anecdotal evidence.

But the answer provided by Mr Morgan was that the support for the recent enlargement of the EU (with ten new states joining last May) was a tacit acceptance by the Welsh public of the reason and logic that a new constitution was now necessary, in order to make the EU of 25 member states to work.

From every corner of the assembly chamber, there were confused looks all round.

Breach of protocol

But the levels of confusion seemed to deteriorate further, when Plaid Cymru's assembly leader Ieuan Wyn Jones reached the podium.

His intention was clear. What he wanted to say was that Wales would benefit far more from its relationship with the EU, if more Welsh civil servants were sent to work for European institutions.

Indeed, he said they could also be sent on secondment to work for UKIP. Yes, UKIP. He said it. He didn't mean to, but he did.

And although the United Kingdom Independence Party has recently had its ranks in Europe depleted, with Robert Kilroy-Silk's rejection of the party whip in the European Parliament, it must be assumed that Ieuan Wyn Jones was actually referring to UKRep - the UK government's permanent representation in Brussels.

The next case of confusion was created by a serious breach of protocol.

As the Labour AM Christine Chapman was making the case on Wales and regional funds, she was rudely interrupted by a mobile phone.

Fortunately, the confusion created by this intervention did not last long, as one of her colleagues, Business Minister Karen Sinclair lunged for her handbag, and escorted the screeching mobile from the chamber.

But the most profound confusion of the afternoon was created by the Labour AMs, when their attention turned to the voting process.

There were 13 opposition amendments, and given the recent trend in assembly politics of rejecting anything that the other side proposes, then there was no surprise to see Labour voting against all the amendments.

But given that one of those amendments called for the assembly to "establish a strong Welsh profile" and "deplores the omission of Wales from the recent Eurostat map", then it's legitimate to ask: who do they think has become confused about the relationship between Wales and the EU?