EU parliament chief fears crisis over constitution
The News International  | April 10 2005
 

PARIS: France will plunge the European Union into crisis if it rejects the EU constitution in a referendum next month, the president of the European Parliament said in an interview published on Saturday. Alarmed by opinion polls, which show the "No" campaign in the lead in France, Josep Borrell warned French opponents of the treaty that rejecting it on May 29 would have far more serious implications for the future of Europe than they imagine.

"Everywhere in Europe I come across a feeling of serious concern. People thought the problem would come from the British but are discovering it is coming from a founding (EU) member state without which you cannot imagine the European project continuing," Borrell told Le Monde newspaper.

"The ‘No’ supporters in France think their rejection will cause a salutary crisis or even salvation without a crisis. I think there will be a crisis and it will not be salutary." Borrell, a Spanish socialist, said there was anxiety in France over its role in Europe and it had fallen behind in the integration of Europe. French voters felt they had not been consulted properly over the EU’s enlargement form 15 to 25 member states in May 2004, and there was "a certain euro fatigue" in France.

"In my opinion there is a French unease over Europe which is breaking out today. The constitution is the catalyst," he said. OPINION POLLS The last 10 opinion polls have put the "No" vote ahead, although many people have not yet decided which way to vote. The constitution requires the approval of all 25-member states to go into force. France’s referendum — and a later one in Britain — will pose a much bigger obstacle to the charter than one in Spain, which approved the treaty in February. The polls indicate that some voters want to oppose the constitution simply to vent their anger over the economic policies of President Jacques Chirac and his government. Borrell said this was not the way to approach the vote on the constitution, which is intended to make it easier for the EU to take decisions now that it has more members.

"You will vote for or against Chirac in the presidential election (in 2007). You should not make the European constitution pay Chirac’s debts to French society," he said. Chirac, who backs the constitution, is due to enter the campaign on Thursday when he holds a debate with 80 people aged between 18 and 25 on private television channel TF1. The debate will have three main themes — what the referendum is about, what it means for France and Europe, and Europe’s place in the world, TF1 said on Saturday.

Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin said he did not believe the "No" voters were really in the majority.