Dutch withdraw ratification law as EU crisis deepens
Chastened by the voters, Dutch MPs today abandoned plans to ratify the EU constitution as European leaders started preparing for a summit to deal with a deepening crisis.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder rushed to Luxembourg to discuss the EU’s future with Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who will chair the summit, Schroeder’s spokesman said. Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said he also will meet Juncker next week.
But as leaders of founding EU states struggled to limit the fallout from this week’s rejections of the charter by Dutch and French voters, MPs in tiny Latvia - one of the EU’s newest members – ratified the draft, challenging those who would give up on the dream of a European superpower. It was the 10th nation to say “yes” to the treaty, drawn up laboriously over two years to govern an expanding and unwieldy union.
The Dutch and French rejected the constitution in referendums by margins that left no doubt over the depth of discontent in parts of Western Europe over the EU’s direction.
Some European leaders were pushing today for the 13 countries that still haven’t decided on the charter to press ahead with planned referendums or parliamentary votes on the draft. But in countries where euroscepticism is high, such as Britain, it appeared planned votes would be scrapped.
The constitution had to be approved by all 25 members to come into force, and Dutch leaders today withdrew a bill from parliament to ratify the charter.
Before France’s vote, EU leaders repeatedly stressed there would be no re-negotiation of the paperback book-sized document. But the EU Commission in Brussels said a summit set for June 16-17 will consider the possibility of drafting a new constitution.
“I am sure that is something that will be debated that week,” EU Commission spokeswoman Francoise Le Bail said, when asked whether a new constitution was a possibility.
The draft constitution was meant to give Europe some of the trappings of statehood – a flag, a president, a diplomatic corps and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy as a pan-Europe anthem.
But it also was devised to allow the organs of the EU bureaucracy to function more smoothly following the expansion last year by 10 new members, eliminating the need for unanimity on many issues.
The reasons driving the “no” campaigns in France and the Netherlands were different. But they shared a common fear that their culturally rich nations would be submerged in a superstate.
Balkenende told a sullen Dutch parliament that European leaders had raced toward integration without consulting their peoples. More than 85% of the 150 members of the Dutch parliament had backed the constitution.
Now, Brussels has to reconnect with the people, he said. “More attention for the citizens, fewer big words, and no more steps forward until there is support for them.”
Some 62% of the Dutch electorate rejected the treaty yesterday, three days after 55% of French voters France said no to the charter.
The high turnout in both countries reflected the unexpected passion that the dry, legalistic document aroused.
“We now need to understand why the Dutch people came to this verdict,” said Balkenende. “We have to listen seriously to the feelings of the Dutch people and – while recognising that we don’t oppose Europe – accept that there are doubts about the entire process,” he said.
Voters voiced concern over the excessive regulations enacted by Brussels – a sentiment echoed today in Italy by Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who suggested the Brussels summit should discuss the extent of the EU’s power as well as the continent’s stagnating economy.
“One can naturally discuss certain questions, the too many laws, the too many regulations, the (excessive) bureaucracy,” he told reporters during a celebration marking Italy’s Republic Day.
Some Dutch “nee” voters said they were opposed to the proposed entry of Turkey into the exclusive EU club, a complaint heard with concern in Ankara and Istanbul.
“Turkey will continue to work in the direction of the preference of most of its people,” said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan in a statement. “Our hopes are still alive that the unification of Europe will be continued.”
Czech President Vaclav Klaus, an outspoken critic of the draft constitution, described the Dutch rejection of the treaty as “a victory for freedom and democracy in Europe.”
Speaking during a visit to Finland, Klaus said the recent referendums revealed a “deep gap” between the people and politicians in Europe.
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