Constitutional Crisis
Given the failure of the French and Dutch to approve the European Constitution, how far does Europe need a Constitution, and if so, what would you like to see in it?
In June 2005 the citizens of France and the Netherlands voiced their disapproval for the planned Constitution. The result was to send shock waves all around Europe and questions the future of the EU.
So what is your view on this?
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”We need a Constitution for transparent and democratic EU.’
I think that Europe needs a Constitution as it unifies the achievments of the last 50 years and makes more clear and transparent. The more simple rules for decision making make the Union more effective. The Constitution also makes the Union more democratic.
”I don’t think that the results of the referendums in France and the Netherlands mean that the EU doesn’t need a constitution.’
They show that the populations don’t have a European political conscience, and that their fears and insecurities lead them to reject the elites. Plus, we have to remember that both referendums were made by very impopular governments. Both countries have had populist surges in the last years (electoral results of extremist parties), and xenophobia or ‘immobilism’ have been at the heart of the ‘no’ vote, even in France. Even the left-wing ‘no’ campt, supposedly internationalist, still made their campaign on the fact that factories were closing in France, and going to Eastern Europe instead. And that France was going to lose European helps to Eastern countries. I don’t mind paying more than I receive in order for Polish farmers to be able to buy what French farmers do. But many people aren’t ready to think like that. In France at least, the media had the same role as in the last presidentials: then, it was about showing old ladies getting beaten up by young arabs in estates, today, it is about showing every night which factory has been closed down, and how dangerous underpaid Romanians are for our workers…
I think this progression of populism in Europe is very dangerous. It corresponds to the current difficulties in many countries, people often don’t have the necessary political and historical culture to reject those leaders. We need to do all the information work that hasn’t been made in the last half of a century, for people to feel more involved in the European construction, so they don’t fear it anymore. And we need to go on ratifying the constitution. This text is very important for all Europeans, it gives a political and institutional legitimacy to the EU, it gives it more strength, and it recognizes many rights that didn’t exist previously. A constitution would be such a fantastic step for the construction of an independent, strong EU…let’s hope our leaders don’t abandon the project like they did the EDC!
‘The Constitution is simply a renovated version of the previous treaties!’
I’m not euroceptic but I never liked, or rather, I don’t like the word Constitution as it is being used. Please call it by any other name! But the word European Constitution does not scares me because I know what is being discussed. In my view, the Constitution is simply a renovated version of the previous treaties, of course with some innovation and some new areas of discussion not present before.
In 2002 I had the lucky to be one of the 210 young people who joined to the works of the European Youth Convention. It was very nice to work together with people from 28 countries and verify by the end that the approved paper didn’t meet the expectations of no one. This work extended also to Portugal with a Portuguese European Youth Convention and later (2003) we had a second meeting in Brussels to make some conclusions and give more inputs to the actual European Constitution. All these words were to say that is almost impossible to write one paper that is fully acceptable by everyone and that with the lack of information about these subjects I can understand why they voted “no” in France or Netherlands: It’s better to say a “no” than a innocent “yes”. There is also a confusion penalising Europe with internal political affairs.
Answering the theme of this month… Europe needs a Constitution because I feel we don’t have a great unity between the different member countries. And we need something symbolic that can sustains this European identity and unity. I would like to see in this Constitution some clauses which clearly say that the sovereignty of each country is maintained, as well as culture(s), difference(s), diversity and richness of this unique continent. I remember that the fear is to loose national power to someone deciding in Brussels far away from the single necessities of each one of us.
‘Its a question of dignity.’
A referendum can have both positive and negative results, as there are also reason in favour and against a cosntitution.The 2 negative answer from the citizens of France and The Netherlands have given a warning to people and officials in Brussels and all over Europe. They have shown amongst others, that although their passport is a European one and although they use the Euro, they do not feel European. It means that they are not ready to give up their nationality for the European one. That is mainly the sence given from all the debates and discussion about it.
However, the European Constitution that needs aprooval now, is giving the chance for citizens to be more involved in the decision making procedures.Its main purpose is the decrease the democratic deficy, and that means that the EU as a whole is intersted for its citizens, what people need and think is very important because those are the ones who are firstly effected by every policy or decision. The fact that 2 nations turned the constitution down simply shows that at the current state it should be re-writen or re-debated and maybe
there should be amendments.Lots of people do not agree with the open-boarder policy, or the entrance of Turkey, other with the peace-keeping army. Mostly everyone is alarmed by the fact that immigration will be out of control.We should think of the 2 rejections positively, maybe it is a good thing and the outcome of the debate between the government officials and the EU will be an even better and stronger constitution.However, the people should also wonder what is better for them.A constitution uniting europe will be the power against the US and will be able to host a knowledge-based economy able to be the first in the world. Say ‘OUI!’
”Constitution is a big word, but Europe needs another step anyway’.
The European Constitution has been rejected for reasons that are probably not so much intrinsic to itself. I think that Europe will one day need a constitution, but a real proper constitution, approved by all europeans in one single voting date made over the whole Europe at the same time. But we are not there yet. However, it is quite obvious for me that Europe needs to make another step forward. This project of constitution is, for me, a good approach that would allow Europe to keep on going with 25 countries until we are ready to accept a proper constitution common to all of us. But a European constitution should be much more precise, much closer to the citizen. This is what I would like to see in the European constitution. If we are not ready for it, let’s wait, let’s keep on going like this, with treaties that allow the European Union to be effective, at least. But calling this project ‘Constitution’ was, in my opinion, a big mistake.
”I was very disappointed to hear the results of the referenda in France and the Netherlands.’
I believe that the European Union needs a constitution to codify all the treaties and set out the powers of each of the institutions.
Europe needs a constitution. When you look at organisations that have constitutions they are many and diverse. From local sports clubs to countries, constitutions lay out the basic rules and procedures for the running of the organisation.
Currently the rules and regulations of the EU are contained in many treaties beginning with the Treaty of Rome and the other treaties. Other regulations are the result of compromises and have never been written down. A constitution would clearly lay out the role for every institution of the EU.
In this constitution I would like to see the EU set out the basic human rights that every EU citizen should have. I also think that the constitution should contain a role for national parliaments. This constitution would clear up a lot of confusion that many citizens encounter when discussing the EU.
”Politicians have forgotten European society.’
The subject of the Constitution brings back the memories of the Youth 2002 meeting in Denmark where we worked on it. I remember heavy debates on the ideal model for the European Union. I remember that despite the nationalities we naturally divided ourselves in two groups of federalists and confederalists. It was not easy to reach a common position, but we all were involved in the final decision making. The real thing was not even close to this. In my opinion the politicians have forgotten to include European society as a whole in the creation of the Constitution and they have pretended that there are no other important questions beside the decision making. The failure of the French and Dutch to approve the European Constitution was a shock to European politicians. And this might be a chance to overcome these two major mistakes.
‘In my opinion, it is still early for a European Constitution.’
First of all, it is important to decide and define what the future of the European Union will be; a group of countries or a federation. I believe that the European constitution is the first step of the long way of becoming a federation and the referandum results of France and the Netherlands show that it is too early for such step. So, the politicians should give people time in order to digest what is offered.
In my opinion, it is still early for a European Constitution.