Waiting for Paris” “

After the enlargement of the frontiers of the Union, the creation of a single currency, and the multiplication of sectors in which there is an overriding need to lend a Europe-wide dimension to policies (from the campaign against terrorism to the protection of consumers, from the support of depressed areas to humanitarian aid), a fixed point is needed in Europe. And the Constitution could represent this certainty, by enabling the EU to tackle the challenges with which it is faced with a constitutional text that clarifies the European identity, enunciates the fundamental values and great common objectives, and realises those institutional reforms needed by a “family” no longer of the 6 founding countries, but of 25, 27 or even 30 member states. These are some of the convictions that have been expressed in recent days in Brussels and in the EU institutions, while awaiting the outcome of the French vote for the ratification of the Constitutional Treaty. FrENCH AND DUTCH CALLED TO THE BALLOT BOX. The French electors are called to vote on Sunday 29 May; on 1st June it will be the turn of the Netherlands, followed in July by Luxembourg and, after the summer, by Poland and Denmark. Some countries – nine in all – have decided to submit the Constitution signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 to the direct vote of their citizens; the other 16 have opted for parliamentary ratification. The definitive approval of the text has already arrived from eight capitals; the others will have to complete the process by the autumn of 2006. After that the situation will be monitored; if all member nations have said “yes” to the Treaty, this could enter into force on 1st November 2006. Otherwise it will be the heads of state and of government of the Twenty-Five who will together decide how to proceed. There are various scenarios: granting further time for the ratification to those countries that have expressed a initially negative view; proceeding with a “two speed” Europe (a more integrated inner core of states and a group that that decides to loosen its ties with Brussels); or, a less probably scenario, providing for the secession from the EU of those States that have rejected the Constitution. all EYES in europe FIXED ON PARIS. The spotlights in the old continent are firmly fixed on Paris, where a heated and wide-ranging debate has been held in recent weeks. The debate, in which representatives of the institutions and associations, of the economic and trades-union world and of the churches, have all intervened, has permitted citizens to clarify their ideas not only on the contents of the Constitution, but also on its overall value. On the other hand, the main political observers have pointed out that in France judgement on the Constitution has been “crossed” with a series of domestic political issues. In this regard Jacques Delors, former President of the European Commission, has repeatedly insisted in his public speeches that “the referendum on the Constitution must not be confused with the French presidential elections”. Delors himself, like most political leaders of the country, has not spared himself in the long referendum campaign, pointing out that “in the event of a victory of the ‘no’ vote a period of economic stagnation would be opened”, while it would make it impossible for Europe “to speak in the world for two or three years, because it would be preoccupied by its internal problems”. For his part, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin (the fate of whose government seems more than ever linked to the result of the referendum) has declared that if French electors were to reject the Constitution, “a phase of political crisis” would be opened both in France and in Europe, with “grave economic consequences”. A conspicuous place among the politicians backing the “yes” campaign has been assumed by the President of the Republic himself, Jacques Chirac, who has more than once appealed to citizens and in particular to the young: “Let’s look to the future – Chirac urged -, by taking France into Europe and by reinforcing the process of integration between the European peoples and states”. “EXTERNAL” SPONSORS FOR THE YES CAMPAIGN. The conservative parties that support the Raffarin government, the socialists and the greens form the coalition supporting the “yes” campaign. In the opposite camp are a part of the socialists, the communists and the far right. The two factions have hired testimonials recognized by the public at large: intellectuals, actors, soccer stars, journalists and artists. The government has got the backing of one of the best known faces in France, the actor Gerard Depardieu, who has said he is “absolutely convinced about saying yes to Europe”. Former President of the Republic, Valery Giscard d’Estaing, who headed the Convention charged with drafting the Constitution, has appealed “to the instinctive wisdom of the French” and urged his compatriots to give a favourable opinion, “so as not to isolate France in Europe with a ‘no’ that would be a gesture of hostility and aggression to our partners”. The yes camp has hired numerous “external” sponsors and many European politicians have arrived in France to participate in the electoral campaign. The more authoritative voices include the President of the European Parliament, the Spaniard Josep Borrell, various exponents of the Commission, the President of the Commission himself, the Portuguese José Manuel Durao Barroso and that of the Council of Ministers, Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Junker. The two have announced a joint intervention for Sunday evening, once the ballot boxes have closed.