It’s not an absolute "no"” “

“The French and Dutch ‘no’ requires discernment about the responsibilities of politicians and of citizens themselves. This vote is in effect many-sided. We cannot deduce from it an absolute rejection of the European project”, says Msgr. Noël Treanor , general secretary of COMECE, the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community, commenting on the results of the referendum on the European Constitutional Treaty in France and Holland (see SIR no.42/2005). Meanwhile the double Franco-Dutch rejection of the Constitution has led the UK to suspend for an indeterminate period the parliamentary process of calling the referendum for the ratification of the European Constitution. Msgr. Giuseppe Merisi , auxiliary bishop of Milan, who represents the Italian bishops on COMECE, has also commented on the situation. THE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE RATIFIED SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN. This vote, according to Msgr. Noël Treanor, “translates real concerns about the social, economic and security problems within the member countries and raises questions about the real ability of the policies of the European Union to respond to these challenges. It warns us against any unlimited enlargement of the EU. The fears of citizens require courage and coherent responses by political leaders at the national and European level”. It is also true, continues Treanor, “that a part of the negative vote is the result of bad information and inadequate communication about the goals and contents of the constitutional treaty”. This underlines, in Treanor’s view, “the need to develop transparency, legitimacy and participation within the system of government”. “We need to invent – suggests Treanor – new ways to inform the public about the aims of the European project and the actions of European politicians”. The secretary of COMECE, however, also urges the need “not to forget the fact that ten member countries have already ratified” the Treaty: they also need to be taken into account. “All European citizens, Christians in the first place – he says – must restore vigour to their appreciation of the political and social importance of the European project and the success it has achieved until now. The European project remains vital for the promotion of peace, economic development and the maintenance of cohesion and social integration, today as 50 years ago”. The results of the referendum will be discussed at the meeting of the executive committee of COMECE on 9-10 June. ANALYSING THE ‘DOUBLE NO’. “There’s disappointment about the negative result of the referendums in France and the Netherlands. We need to analyse the reasons for this double ‘no’, to see whether motives of domestic politics took precedence or whether it was a negative view of the Constitution itself or, even, of the whole process of European integration”. That’s the comment of Msgr. Giuseppe Merisi, auxiliary bishop of Milan, representative of the Italian bishops at COMECE (Commission of the episcopates of the European Community), who insists on the need for a “pause for reflection to help us interpret the message transmitted by French and Dutch citizens”. In his view, various motivations may have led voters to vote “no”: “some have observed that the electorate was prompted by fear of the new waves of immigration from Eastern Europe or Turkey, but also by aversion to the excessive bureaucracy imputed to the institutions of Brussels and Strasbourg. Conflicting accusations – added Merisi – were levelled against the EU: there were those who spoke of a Constitution too ‘free trade’ in approach, while others expressed the opposite opinion”. “The objection warning against a European Union too invasive on some issues that could be better tackled at the national level seems to me particularly interesting: for instance, issues such as bioethics, education, and questions linked to the family”. Merisi points out a further possible contradiction: “This double negative result could be seen either as a vote against the Constitution or against the very idea of the “European common home’; but it could also indicate that a part of citizens asks for ‘more Europe’, in other words a greater conviction on the part of the political class in proceeding towards the integration between EU member states”. Lastly the bishop declares: “It will be the common responsibility to revive the process of integration, given that there are no viable alternatives to the construction of a Europe of peace, founded on unity in diversity. We need to take account of the will of the people by offering new opportunities to revive the Constitution and bring citizens closer to the institutions”.