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Europe
Blair faces clash over move to kill EU treaty
2005-05-31
Tony Blair was on a collision course with fellow European leaders last night over Government plans to kill off the EU constitution if, as now seems almost certain, the Dutch follow the French and reject it in their referendum tomorrow. As Mr Blair's counterparts abroad demanded no let-up in the drive to ratify the document, the Prime Minister called for "a time for reflection", while Whitehall began preparing the ground for a full-scale U-turn on the commitment to put it to the vote in Britain. Bertie Ahern, the Irish prime minister, confirmed that his country would soldier on with plans to hold a referendum on the text. He is one of a number of leaders still trying to save the constitution from destruction. However, Foreign Office sources said that a second No vote in four days from a founding member state, this time the Netherlands, would make it impossible for the ratification process to continue in Britain and across the continent. Such an outcome seemed almost guaranteed as the latest opinion polls indicated that the Dutch majority against the constitution would be even bigger than the French - and might approach a landslide.
Posted by:Fred

#14  Well...they (the French) made the A380 fly, there could still be some hope left.
Posted by: Rafael   2005-05-31 23:24  

#13  I'm all for the committee working up another draft constitution for the countries to vote on. Such activity keeps them healthily occupied and out of trouble, which means the rest of the EU can get on with (hopefully) making things work.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-05-31 13:47  

#12  In order to kill The proposed Constitution (note: really a massive treaty disguised as a constitution), someone has to offer an alternative. Since all EU komissars and various country leaders have repeatedly stated that there is NO alternative, they won't kill it.

Isn't the alternative simply to, oh, go on as you are?
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2005-05-31 13:15  

#11  In order to kill The proposed Constitution (note: really a massive treaty disguised as a constitution), someone has to offer an alternative. Since all EU komissars and various country leaders have repeatedly stated that there is NO alternative, they won't kill it.

I wish there were a group of Europeans who would propose to copy the American Constitution and publish The Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers all over the EU. I would have done it, but I've left Europe for good.
Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever)   2005-05-31 12:34  

#10  "Kill it! Kill it! Somebody get a stick!"
Posted by: mojo   2005-05-31 11:14  

#9  Now that you come to mention it, RC... [snigger]
Posted by: Bulldog   2005-05-31 10:38  

#8  (Anyone else chuckling at the image of Aris sputtering and spewing with anger over what the French did to his beloved nation?)
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2005-05-31 10:27  

#7   "thought the EU constitution had to ratified by all members"

Yes, but that doesnt mean a no vote kills it. In theory they could just hold ANOTHER referendum in the country that voted no, till they get a yes vote. IIRC thats what happened when Denmark voted no on the Maastricht treaty. If the a SMALL country voted down the constitution, by a NARROW margin, thats probably what would happen. But this was France, and the margin was large, so it seems unlikely they will try that.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2005-05-31 10:08  

#6  
Posted by: Howard UK   2005-05-31 08:57  

#5  The Europhiles are already speaking of redrafting... they'll NEVER give up until we have a glass dome built over the top and Europe looks like one of the pictures off the front of a Jehovahs Witness propaganda pamphlet.
Posted by: Howard UK   2005-05-31 08:54  

#4  I thought the EU constitution had to ratified by all members. If the frogs said no, then it's already dead. The Dutch would just be putting a wooden stake through its heart.
Posted by: Spot   2005-05-31 08:49  

#3  If the British referendum was expected in a few months' time rather than 'some time next year', that would be a good idea, but as things stand, continuing with plans for the UK referendum on this constitution is pointless. If the constitution's to be re-released for France, Holland and the others who vote 'no', it will now have to be re-drafted, and when will that be finished? I'd like to see Blair call a snap-referendum on the issue, but he certainly won't do that because he knows full well what would happen ;) .
Posted by: Bulldog   2005-05-31 06:11  

#2  Yup, I think a UK vote would be a suitable coup de grace. Hardly worth the expense and gnashing of teeth though.. C'est fin.
Posted by: Howard UK   2005-05-31 05:07  

#1  The UK should vote, to kill it for good. No weasle room here, a vote must occur. Dead is dead.
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom   2005-05-31 01:20  

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