A strong signal” “

With the success of the first popular referendum for the ratification of the European Constitution, held in Spain on Sunday 20 February, the “Yes” campaign launched by the International European Movement (IEM) has moved into top gear. It is a campaign being run throughout the continent to promote a “yes” to the fundamental Treaty of the Union, signed in Rome on 29 October 2004. The Constitution can only enter into force if all 25 member states give it the thumbs up. SPAIN SAYS “YES” TO THE CONSTITUTION. With 42% turnout and, among these, 76% yes votes, the Spaniards have voted in favour of the ratification of the new EU Constitutional Treaty. Thus, to the parliamentary approval of Lithuania, Slovenia and Hungary is now added the endorsement of the Iberian people, the first to proceed to ratification through referendum. The result was hailed by the President of the European Commission José Manuel Durao Barroso. “The Spaniards have said yes to Europe, yes to the future”, sending out “a strong signal to their European fellow-citizens called to pronounce on the Constitution in the months ahead”. Barroso declared that Sunday’s vote “is absolutely clear in favour of a Europe that moves forward and that makes the difference, a Europe united in diversity”. Also important are the reactions to the vote (apart from the national ones, beginning with that of Spanish premier José Luis Zapatero) expressed by the President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell and Joaquin Almunia, EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs: “Once again – explains the Commissioner – Spanish society has identified with the idea of a united democratic Europe, capable of speaking with a single voice to the rest of the world”. Almunia recognises that the progress registered in his country over the last 25 years “would not have been possible without Europe”, and has sent out a message of responsibility and hope to the new member states.   CONVINCING ELECTORS. The outcome of the Spanish referendum has boosted the “Yes” campaign promoted by the IEM. Created in 1948 and still present in 41 countries, with 22 affiliated associations, the European Movement is “an international organization open to all political, cultural and economic tendencies”. Its aim is “the creation of a united and federal Europe”. Among its “founding fathers” the IEM can boast of men of the calibre of Winston Churchill, Alcide De Gasperi, Léon Blum and Paul-Henri Spaak. Its results so far have been significant: for example, the establishment of the Council of Europe and the realization of the European College in Bruges. The current President of the movement, the Spaniard José Maria Gil-Robles, former President of the European Parliament, and its executive had presented the campaign in favour of the Constitution in Brussels and Strasbourg before Sunday’s referendum in Spain, affirming that “the aim of the campaign is to convince as large a number of citizens as possible to vote for ratification, and underlining the importance of the Constitution for the future of Europe”. The IEM campaign has received the support of the European Union of Federalists (EUF) and Federalist Youth (EFY), as well as numerous national groups, parties and cultural associations. “The EU is called to tackle one of the greatest challenges in its history – explain the campaign’s promoters -. Twenty-Five states must ratify Europe’s first Constitution if the Union is to proceed to closer integration and stronger democracy”. Most ratifications will take place through a vote in parliament, but at least ten countries will consult their electorate as Madrid has done. BORRELL AND BARROTWITH THE IEM. The supporters of the “Yes” campaign include the President of the EP, Josep Borrell (“We recognise the IEM’s essential role in consolidating the European spirit”) and the Vice-President of the Commission, Jacques Barrot (“We need to support the new Constitution and work together to explain it to citizens”). The “Yes” campaign, after the success in Spain, has planned numerous events and meetings in the months ahead, especially in the countries that are due to call a referendum. The next countries to do so will be Luxembourg (where citizens will vote on 10 July), France and the Netherlands. The other referendums will be held in the first half of 2006. The European Movement has drawn up a “declaration of support” for the campaign, in which it hails “the significant progress made by the Union in satisfying its ambitious objectives of economic prosperity, social justice and sustainable development” and “welcomes the reforms contained in the Constitution”: in particular those that tend to “reinforce the rights of citizens, make a success of the enlarged EU, improve its internal democracy and reinforce its efforts to achieve a more just, peaceful and safer world”.