On the aftermath of the French and Dutch “no” to the Constitutional Treaty of European Union, the 25 heads of State met in Brussels, on that occasion the European Council declared:
“The citizens express worries and reservations that should be taking into consideration. It is, therefore, necessary to proceed with a due reflection about this happening. This reflection period would be used to carry out in each of our countries a wide debate, with which citizens, civil society, social partners and national parliaments will be associated, as well as political parties. (…) We made an appointment for the first semester of 2006 in order to proceed with a global appreciation of the national debates…”
A wide debate? To which citizens, civil society, social partners and political parties will be associated? Political parties? One almost feels like say nothing deserves to be said such is the shallowness of the words. The debate does not exist, it is not promoted, it does not have interest neither from potential promoters nor from potential participants. The Portuguese Prime Minister signed an empty, subjective and discouraging declaration of intentions, in which the small print seems to affirm in a loud voice: “the Constitutional Treaty died, it is buried and is irrecoverable. We are only going to try and recover some parts to see if we get along together at 25. Also because the current treaty, the treaty of Nice only triggered debate for a single reason: the need for its revision.”
The fact is that the Constitutional Treaty really did die, and the later the burial, the more commotion it will cause. The Constitutional Treaty only could come alive if all the Members States of the European Union had ratified it. France said “no”. The Netherlands said “no”. Czech Republic postponed the referendum that was supposed to be in June 2006. Denmark postponed the referendum supposed to be on the 27th September. Ireland also delayed the referendum, just as Portugal did. The United Kingdom delayed the referendum and the parliamentary ratification. And Sweden delayed the latter.
The Constitutional Treaty will not come into practice. Perhaps it will be possible to make the most out of some less polemic novelties, namely on what concerns the simplification of treaties and the transparency of the European Union. Just give it a decent funeral. As quickly as possible.
“The citizens express worries and reservations that should be taking into consideration. It is, therefore, necessary to proceed with a due reflection about this happening. This reflection period would be used to carry out in each of our countries a wide debate, with which citizens, civil society, social partners and national parliaments will be associated, as well as political parties. (…) We made an appointment for the first semester of 2006 in order to proceed with a global appreciation of the national debates…”
A wide debate? To which citizens, civil society, social partners and political parties will be associated? Political parties? One almost feels like say nothing deserves to be said such is the shallowness of the words. The debate does not exist, it is not promoted, it does not have interest neither from potential promoters nor from potential participants. The Portuguese Prime Minister signed an empty, subjective and discouraging declaration of intentions, in which the small print seems to affirm in a loud voice: “the Constitutional Treaty died, it is buried and is irrecoverable. We are only going to try and recover some parts to see if we get along together at 25. Also because the current treaty, the treaty of Nice only triggered debate for a single reason: the need for its revision.”
The fact is that the Constitutional Treaty really did die, and the later the burial, the more commotion it will cause. The Constitutional Treaty only could come alive if all the Members States of the European Union had ratified it. France said “no”. The Netherlands said “no”. Czech Republic postponed the referendum that was supposed to be in June 2006. Denmark postponed the referendum supposed to be on the 27th September. Ireland also delayed the referendum, just as Portugal did. The United Kingdom delayed the referendum and the parliamentary ratification. And Sweden delayed the latter.
The Constitutional Treaty will not come into practice. Perhaps it will be possible to make the most out of some less polemic novelties, namely on what concerns the simplification of treaties and the transparency of the European Union. Just give it a decent funeral. As quickly as possible.
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