May 30, 2005
APRES VOUS, ALPHONSE
EU reacts swiftly to France's "non" (Deutsche Welle, May 30th, 2005)
EU leaders were also quick to react to France's no vote in Sunday's referendum. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told reporters that the result would require a period of reflection on the future of the EU. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said that France's rejection of the EU constitution was regrettable and presented Europe with "great challenges". The President of the EU Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, described the no vote as a problem which had to be solved. German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said the French rejection was a setback but did not spell the end of the road for the treaty.
In these difficult and uncertain times, it is reassuring to know Europe is led by courageous men of vision and conviction.
Comments
Is there something lost in the translation? The EU constitution has to be approved by all member countries. One member county just said no and yet, as quoted above, it's just a problem to be solved and not the end of the road for the treaty.
Why isn't it kaput?
Because its raison d'etre is to offer an alternative to the USA (and an ostensibly superior one at that). The EU won't die (in these 'enlightened minds') until the peasants actually attack the buildings in Brussells. Which may just happen if the politicians keep shoving the idea downwards.
Posted by: jim hamlen at May 30, 2005 11:43 AM