SEPTEMBER 2005

Catherine Colonna, the French Europe Minister has her own view of the French no vote on 29 may: “There has been a misunderstanding between the French and Europe, it’s true. But it would be a mistake to consider that the French have rejected Europe en bloc. They rejected a certain way of doing it. But, very often, it was a need for more Europe and more efficiency, which was expressed. With new actions this new consensus can be found… Europe must take the place it deserves in political life. We must strengthen the coordination of our economic policies. The Eurogroup must be more of a tool for achieving development and growth… We also need to develop dialogue between the Eurogroup and the European Central Bank. Europe’s citizens expect it to have a stronger voice in the world. I cannot reply on the definite future of the constitutional treaty, too many questions remain. However, there is still a need for renovated institutions.”

The former Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar also argues that there is a need to reform. “New Europe will not succeed if ‘Old Europe’ isn’t competitive enough to meet the challenges of the global economy”. According to him EU leaders must stop discussing the Constitution: “The constitution is dead, and there is no way to revive it… Europe must not stop reforms but start with real reforms.”

However the German CDU spokesman Pflüger points out that “the EU Constitution represents for [the CDU] a step in the right direction. We think that it will be possible to save most of it under a more modest form, for example a new intergovernmental conference.” In addition to this he states that “the Franco-German relationship will remain a pillar of our foreign policy and we will not, as some have said, try and substitute it with stronger relations with the US or with Great Britain.”

But Jose Barroso, the president of the EU Commission said “Let’s stop fuelling the illusion of a constitution, let’s stop the transcendental discussions on the future of Europe, and let’s get to work on the basis on the existing treaties.” Concerning the binning of EU laws he said, “We will look at the text, and if it is an absurd piece of legislation, too bureaucratic, obsolete, risks annoying people or businesses and feeding Europhobia, then we will throw it in the bin!”

Valery Giscard d’Estaing has his own point of view on the French no vote: “It was not a simple no, it’s a complex no. It was interpreted like a rejection of the Constitution, that’s what people say over here, but there was a poll in June asking people do you think that Europe needs a Constitution. 61 percent said yes. So the no was not so much a no to the European Constitution, it was a no for other reasons.” According to him it was a no to Turkish membership of EU and he still doesn’t agree with those who say the Constitution is dead. “By now, or within a few weeks, a majority of European States will have ratified… We have to wait and see at the end how the treaty can be adopted. We have to think about it, to give a few months to explain the issues to people, and after that there will be a new presentation, and I think, an approval.”

There are others who refuse “to bury EU Constitution”. Martin Schulz, socialist Party head is quoted, “I find it totally unacceptable that the President of the Commission has just told us: that’s it, for me, the Constitution is not a priority, I have other fish to fry.” He points out that the ratification process had “not yet run its course in several countries” and so Jose Barroso “should be to take the lead over those who are for the Constitution rather than putting it in a drawer.” Graham Watson, Head of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats agrees with him, “ I think it is too early to bury the Constitution” and Hans-Gert Poettering said, “This Constitution is still on the table”. The leader of the European People’s Party admits, “it will not be able to be applied in the days, or in the coming weeks, but we hope that after the French presidential election we will be in a new situation.” He is “perfectly convinced that the only way that we will be able to react to this crisis of identity is if we affirm the values which unite us, in the European Constitution.”

Two MEPs, Alexander Stubb and Inigo Méndez de Vigo support this view. They argue, “The Constitution will not enter into force in its current form but it is far from dead. The British presidency needs to get the Constitution back on track. Here is a five-step plan on how to do it. The plan is composed of periods for reflection in 2005, analysis in 2006, preparation in 2007, revision in 2008 and ratification in 2009…The constitution is an integral part of the future of the Union… The British presidency must show leadership and put the Constitution back on track.”