British move to suspend vote deepens European rift

BRITAIN is leading moves to shelve the European constitution until EU leaders agree a way forward after the emphatic “no” vote in France and the Netherlands.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, is expected to tell MPs on Monday that legislation paving the way for a British referendum will be suspended until there is “clarity” from EU leaders.

Officials in Brussels fear that suspending the ratification process is tantamount to killing it, and European leaders have demanded that the process continue despite the defeats.

But other countries facing tough referendum battles signalled that they may follow Britain’s lead, deepening the rifts within the Union.

At Downing Street next week Tony Blair will meet Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister, who is said to be “sympathetic” to calls for a postponement.

Denmark is due to hold a referendum in September, but a poll last night showed that the “yes” camp’s eight-point lead has suddenly turned into a nine-point deficit.

Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach, said that the Irish Government would continue to prepare for a referendum, but would be guided by the outcome of the emergency EU summit on June 16.

Giulio Tremonti, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister, said that he believed that the constitution was dead.

Even José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, is said to be privately sympathetic to the British position.

“You have to be realistic and recognise realities. A pause is very realistic. Barroso understands Blair’s position,” a Commission source told The Times.

But most member states continue to insist that the treaty be kept alive, and were drawing up their battle lines for June 16.

Gerhard Schröder, the German Chancellor, held an emergency meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and current EU president, yesterday, and will have another with President Chirac of France tomorrow.

“I will not give up working for this constitution, for a united Europe,” Herr Schröder said in Luxembourg. Mr Juncker said: “I remain . . . of the view the ratification process must be able to continue.”

While the rest of Europe agonised over the fate of the constitution, Latvia became the tenth member state to adopt it yesterday when its parliament ratified the treaty by an overwhelming majority.

Officially the British Government is saying little. It takes over the EU presidency next month, and does not want to be seen as the country that killed the treaty — although it would be delighted to escape a vote it would almost certainly lose.

Mr Blair, who is on holiday in Italy, has yet to comment on the Dutch vote. But Douglas Alexander, the Europe Minister, made the British position clear when he told BBC Radio that the treaty was in “serious difficulty” but “it’s not for one country to declare it dead”. He noted that some countries had said that they intended to continue with ratification, but refused to say that Britain would do the same.

“We think it is right to pause and reflect as the Prime Minister has indicated, and Jack Straw will take the opportunity when Parliament returns on Monday to make a statement where it is appropriate for the British Government to make a statement, and that is to the British Parliament,” he said.

Mr Blair’s allies were out in force yesterday, making clear that they believed the treaty had no future.

Lord Kinnock, the former EU commissioner, said that it would be a “pantomime” to carry on the ratification process as if nothing had happened. “It’s dead and the idea you can have a pantomime lasting over a year is absurd.”

Stephen Byers, the former Transport Secretary and a confidant of Mr Blair’s, said that he was astonished that some European leaders were acting as if nothing had happened. “What part of ‘no’ don’t they understand?” he said.

There is some nervousness in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that Mr Straw’s statement on Monday suspending ratification will be seen as provocative, pre-empting the June 16th summit.

British officials yesterday played down the chances of the summit achieving a breakthrough, given the polarised nature of opinions across Europe.

They are determined that the problems with the treaty will not dominate the EU Presidency, which Mr Blair has made clear he wants to focus on economic reform.

Yesterday, Britain lined up with eight other EU member states to save the UK’s opt-out from Europe’s 48-hour working week.

Alan Johnson, the Trade and Industry Secretary, and fellow employment ministers from the eight countries used a so-called “blocking minority” vote to reject European Commission plans that could have ended the opt-out.

Not only is the EU Constitution much wordier (the entire US preamble is 52 words which only gets to the President of France in the EU preamble), it shows the European ideal that power comes from the rulers instead of the people.

A few years ago, I listened to a talk radio show during which the host was interviewing an American who had lived for many years in Europe. I don't remember the name of the host or the guest, but I'll never forget something the guest said. The host had asked him to summarize for the audience, in one sentence, the difference between Europe and the United States. The guest thought for a moment and said:

"In Europe, if something is not explicitly allowed, it is forbidden; in the United States, if something is not explicitly forbidden, it is allowed."

While I've never been to Europe, this fits with everything I've seen come from that continent. It speaks to where the primary or default power of decision resides, with the people or with the political class. Of course, when the primary power of decision resides with the people, that is a state we call freedom.

"I believe that if they try to bash America in order to ingratiate themselves with their voters that it will backfire big time."

Yes! The voters have seen & heard enough from those two to fully fathom when being taken for a political ride.

There shall indeed be some very interesting months ahead in turbulent 'Euroland' .

"Didn't make the mainstream mess but EU is asking [begging] OPEC to increase production. Euro on way up if so--gas $1/gallon aqui."

I am not sure I understood the last portion of the statement correctly?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.