June 2, 2005

JUST SAY, NO:

Blair faces a struggle to avoid referendum (FRASER NELSON, 6/02/05, The Scotsman)

TONY Blair was last night facing a concerted campaign from European Union leaders to keep the ratification process alive - and force Britain to pass its official judgment.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the head of the European Commission, implored the 13 EU countries which have not yet ratified the process to "avoid any unilateral initiatives" by declaring it dead before they meet in a fortnight’s time.

Germany, Ireland, Greece, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have all called for the ratification process to keep going until every country has had its say.

Legally, the Prime Minister can only be released from his pledge to ratify the constitution by a unanimous vote of the 25-member European Council. Last night, the chances of this seemed slim

Legally? Who's going to make him?

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 2, 2005 6:42 AM
Comments

Blair should use this to a) get Britain far away from the EU and b) join the US in picking over the EU carcass via free trade agreements and so forth.

Unfortunately Blair will probably do his best to help save the EU and bring Britain into it.

Posted by: AWW at June 2, 2005 8:00 AM

It's a bad constitution, the French and Dutch were right to reject it (mostly for the wrong reasons) and they could easily replace it with a better constitution that set forth the basic structure of government without trying to tie the future in knots. Why don't they? Because this new Europe they're trying to creats is a state without a nation.

Posted by: David Cohen at June 2, 2005 8:09 AM

If Blair's EU buddies complain about it, why not let the referendum proceed? Considering that the French and the Dutch didn't okay the EU Constitution, does anybody in his right mind think the British public will?

Posted by: Matt Murphy at June 2, 2005 9:07 AM

I think Blair's optimal strategy would be to hold the refendum as soon as possible and to not campaign for it. Its going to lose and if he campaigns for it, there will be demands for his resignation, better to duck and not run that risk.

Posted by: Robert Schwartz at June 2, 2005 10:26 AM

David:

No, they can't. They comprehend neither its necessary basis nor end.

Posted by: oj at June 2, 2005 10:31 AM

OJ: I think they are starting to figure out where it's going to end, which is why they won't simply leave the future to its own devices.

Posted by: David Cohen at June 2, 2005 6:54 PM

David:

Where's the evidence that they're willing to do anything like what would be required to achieve a decent end?

Posted by: oj at June 2, 2005 9:12 PM
« INNIE OR OUTIE?: | Main | NOT DEAD YET: »