BULGARIA/ ROMANIA: REACTIONS TO EUROPEAN MEMBERSHIP PLANS FOLLOWING FAILED CONSTITUTION REFERENDUMS IN FRANCE AND HOLLAND

Record ID: 647078

  • Title: BULGARIA/ ROMANIA: REACTIONS TO EUROPEAN MEMBERSHIP PLANS FOLLOWING FAILED CONSTITUTION REFERENDUMS IN FRANCE AND HOLLAND
  • Date: 2nd June 2005
  • Summary: (CEEF) , SOFIA, BULGARIA (JUNE 02, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF SQUARE IN SOFIA WITH STATUE 0.02 2. VARIOUS OF STREET SCENES 0.09 3. WIDE OF FLAG FLYING FROM GOVERNMENT BUILDING 0.11 4. SLV PEOPLE ON THE STREETS 0.15 5. SCU SOUNDBITE: (English) MEGLENA KUNEVA, MINISTER OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: "Well we have something in common with the the Dutch which is that we are not really used to referendums, how to raise attention, how to develop interest, but I will not hide that for us its kind of symptomatic , this no referendum of your country, but I believe that after considerable efforts from both sides we will be able to congratulate each other with a yes vote, yes to Euro integration and yes an enlarged Europe, I do not not believe that this is related to enlargement,. it is much more related to lack of democracy, and lack of direct involvement of people but as the the same time I believe that this constitution will allow us to express ourselves, and I can only wish everyone luck with ratifying it" 1.28 5. SCU SOUNDBITE: (Bulgarian) ANGEL TSENOV SAYS: "It is early to say what impact on Bulgarian integration this vote will have, but I think it concerns only Holland and France, who will change their opinion and things will go smoothly" 1.44 6. SCU SOUNDBITE: (Bulgarian) ANTONINA MIHALEVA : " If you ask me the Dutch people are right to vote like this. Because we are represented in Europe by our gangsters, gypsies and who would like to have people like this around?" 2.00 7. WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF SOFIA UNIVERSITY 2.02 BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (JUNE 2, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 8. VARIOUS OF ILIE SERBANESCU, POLITICAL ANALYST, AT DESK 2.14 9. SCU SOUNDBITE (Romanian) ILIE SERBANESCU, POLITICAL ANALYST, SAYING : "A no vote from France and Holland is an advantage in the long term for a country like Romania. this is because that the no vote come from those who are afraid of Europe expansion, forgetting that this expansion is the only chance for Europe. This chance is the unification of western technology and eastern labour" 2.44 10. WIDE OF STREET SCENE IN BUCHAREST WITH PEOPLE AND TRAM 2.50 11. SCU SOUNDBITE (Romanian) A MAN ON THE STREET, SAYING : "There will be a lot of problems (after this no vote), terms will be stricter. If Romania will be able to answer to this i think that it will not be in the position to postpone its EU accession.... 3.10 12. SCU SOUNDBITE (Romanian) A MAN ON THE STREET, SAYING : "It is not necessary for us to enter the EU , if they don't want us we don't want them. but it is not that simple. in the end we have to be united, we are all in Europe" 3.21 13. SLV PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET. 3.25 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th June 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SOFIA, BULGARIA/BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
  • City:
  • Country: Romania Bulgaria
  • Reuters ID: LVARMDBT191WTWKLZDR09H55G2S
  • Story Text: Bulgaria and Romania say EU membership plans at risk
    after failed constitution referendums in France and Holland.




    A stunned European Union warned against panic on
    Thursday (June 2) after the Dutch joined France in a
    resounding "No" to the bloc's constitution, putting both
    further expansion and decision-making in jeopardy.

    The euro touched an eight-month low after the Dutch
    vote, but European Central Bank President Jean-Claude
    Trichet said any talk of the single currency's demise was
    absurd.

    The popular rejection by two of the six nations that
    founded the bloc in the 1950s was for many the end of the
    charter, drawn up to make the Union run more smoothly after its
    enlarge
    ment to 25 states from 15 last year.

    All 25 must ratify the treaty for it to come into force.

    The two referendums cast doubt on aspirations for a
    stronger EU foreign policy and its plans to expand further
    into the Balkans, Turkey and Ukraine, and raised questions
    about its appetite for economic reform amid mounting global
    competition.

    EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said enlargement
    would proceed despite the French and Dutch votes, but
    letters would be sent to
    Bulgaria and Romania, expected to join in 2007, warning
    them the pace of their pre-entry reforms is insufficient.

    In Bulgaria reacting was muted, but optimistic.

    "It is early to say what impact on Bulgarian integration
    this vote will have, but I think it concerns only Holland
    and France, who will change their opinion and things will
    go smoothly", said Bulgaria's EU Integration minister.

    Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose
    country holds the EU presidency, said the Dutch and French
    rejections did not alter the economic fundamentals
    underpinning the euro.

    The currency shared by 12 members of the EU touched an
    eight-month low after the vote in the Netherlands.

    The euro has lost nearly 10 percent against the dollar
    since mid-March but it rebounded on Thursday to trade at
    $1.2255 after falling to $1.2158 in New York late on
    Wednesday.


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