The French say "non"!

[acw]

Anyone else feel slightly secretly pleased that they can now put off reading the EU constitution for a little longer?  Now that the French have rejected it, we shall not have a referendum on it for the foreseeable future.  Moreover, given that this probably means a need for ammendments, there's no point in reading it yet in an attempt to get ahead of the game!

Believe me, when the time comes I will get fully informed so that I can make an educated vote.  But for now, I'm just secretly pleased that I can put this off for a while.  I find EU stuff terribly dull, but it's important so I make myself take note.

Anyone else quietly pleased we can put off the big read for a little while longer?

[Madge.B]

I hope when we get the new section this sort of chatty thread disappears out of 20 answers 10 make no contribution to the question 3 of those belong to acw.

[delboy3]

There is an easy-to-read 16-page summary brochure available, "A Constitution For Europe", from your local main library.

A sad result indeed - but it ain't over yet...

[jno]

rule of thumb: a weak and divided Europe means a strong America. Specifically, Tony Blair will decide there's no point in schmoozing European leaders who are in an even weaker position than he is (Chirac mortally wounded, Schroder heading for election defeat) and cosy up to Bush even more. Is this actually wanted by those contributors who are glad the referendum was voted down?.

[45703]

Prefer America to a French/German dominated Europe so yes.

[avis50]

Dom Tuk - the French have often in the past given everyone a copy of the EU treaty amendments under discussion - I believe they did so for Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice.  I don't know if other countries do.

In the 1975 Referendum there was a Government leaflet and also one each from the Yes and No campaigns, which were circulated to all households.  The Government leaflet is online at

http://www.harvard-digital.co.uk/euro/

(click on the link at the bottom of that page.

[Artful]

Too true about a Strong America, jno. But I don't think Chirac is mortally wounded; he's in agony, yes and everyone is waiting to see what is going to happen. He's speaking tonight to justify his choice of new PM and perhaps more will be said then.

[Artful]

So I understand that the British are going to buy the Constitution, something that is very long, tedious and incomprehensible to very many - I won't say the majority for fear odf offending.
In France nothing is STIPULATED that it has to be put thru everyone's front door - but, hey, it is handed out - at least the french treat their voters as citizens capable of making a decision if given the food required - in GB Blair hadn't made his mind up re a referendum or not. Now one country has said no (until tomorrow?) he is thinking of getting off the fence and saying "B***** it; wonder if Bush wants to come over for dinner..."

[In4themoney]

A bit harsh MargeB I call it deliberations!

[Artful]

And now the Dutch have voted no, so that's 2 countries I heard this morning that all 25 countries have to vote so if Blair decides there is going to be a referendum you're still going to have to think about reading the Constitution. Sorry!

[acw]

Not all countries will hold a referendum hun.  Some have already ratified it, yes with a vote, but a vote in their parliament.  You are correct that all will vote - but not all citizens will!  So we MIGHT still have a referendum in the UK, we might not.  Hmmmmm!

[Artful]

You're right acw. That was where Chirac bougred up over here - by allowing a referendum. And I did say if Blair decides to have a referendum...

[acw]

So you did Artful.  My eyes must have still been full of sleepy dust.  Sorry hun! :-)

ABE - When is post 21 going to be removed?  The one by Madge.B.  It's been reported and it's just annoying now.  Please could you take it out as it in itself is utterly irrelevant.  The rest of us are debating politics!

[In4themoney]

I don't agree with Madge.B but she has a valid point acw the ABE should remove posts 3, 9, 13, 14, 19, 21, 28, 32, and 33 none contribute to your topical question

-:)

[In4themoney]

Good news the ABE is now monitoring the report buttons!  goodnews  

[Space]

Being french, I actually received the constitution papers, and tried to read them.

It's unreadable. I bet that only 5% of the french tried to read it , and 0.1% managed to read it ( and 0.01% understood it )

Apparently there was some interesting ideas, such as help eastern countries to shut down their nuclear power plants... but that's only if you make it to page 135 or something...

They should have done a summary of it. Sending the whole text to everyone is such a waste of paper...

Let's just adopt the euro, that will do for now.

[Artful]

Space, we have adopted the euro, had you forgotten?!

[Artful]

Well, acw, now that Blair has said the referendum is off I guess that definitively answers your ?, doesn't it?!

[acw]

Yes it did hun.  Still didn't stop people hijacking the thread to have a go at me though did it?! Grrrr.  Thanks for keeping it political hun! :-)