Posted on 01/03/2005 11:31:52 AM PST by jb6
Serious questions would be raised about the UK's relationship with the rest of the EU if it rejected the proposed constitution, the EU's foreign policy chief has said.
Javier Solano said it would not be "the end of the world" if the UK rejected the controversial treaty in a referendum expected in spring 2006.
But he said it would raise questions about Britain's relations with those countries that voted in favour of the constitution.
Mr Solano said the constitution would help an expanded EU operate more effectively.
He said a "No" vote would not mean Britain would be excluded from the European family.
But speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he added: "It would open up the question of the relationship of the UK with the other members of the EU that have voted 'Yes'.
"That would be a very important moment in the history of the EU and in the history of your country."
Mr Solano said he was sure Prime Minister Tony Blair would mount a "solid campaign" for a "Yes" vote.
"I am sure he is going to defend the constitution as a good thing for the UK and a good thing for Europe as a whole," he said.
Each of the EU's 25 member states must approve the constitution by parliamentary vote or referendum before it can take effect. So far, Hungary and Lithuania - both new members - have ratified the constitution with a parliamentary vote. The first popular referendum is expected to take place in Spain in February.
Just because the rest of them are suckers, should the UK be a sucker too?
If only one nation (e.g., the UK) rejects the Constitution, then I think the rest will decide to move on without it. If several reject it, even two, then I would surely think it'll get scrapped and they'll go back to the drawing board.
It depends on who reject it. It's one thing if two or three small countries such as Austria or Luxembourg reject it; it's something else if France and Germany reject it.
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