BELGIUM: EU FOREIGN MINISTERN WARN OF CRISIS IF FRANCE VOTES NO TO REFERENDUM ON THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION

Record ID: 677760

  • Title: BELGIUM: EU FOREIGN MINISTERN WARN OF CRISIS IF FRANCE VOTES NO TO REFERENDUM ON THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION
  • Date: 23rd May 2005
  • Summary: (EU) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (MAY 23, 2005) (REUTERS) SLV EXTERIOR OF EUROPEAN COUNCIL BUILDING SV/SLV OFFICIALS ARRIVING/JEAN ASSELBORN, LUXEMBOURG MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, GOING INTO BUILDING (2 SHOTS) SV NICOLAS SCHMIT, LUXEMBOURG MINISTER DELEGATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS ARRIVING MCU CAMERAMAN FILMING MCU (English) NICOLAS SCHMIT, LUXEMBOURG MINISTER DELEGATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SAYING: "They vote no but their vote is not about Europe. They have to understand that they vote about the future of Europe and not about the future of their internal politics. So I think that these people are really risking very very high and I really cannot understand those who consider themselves as pro-European and to push the French into really a deadlock. A deadlock for France, but also a deadlock for Europe. REPORTERS SAYING: "What is the main risk?" NICOLAS SCHMIT SAYING: "Well, what I just said, we will enter a big crisis, there is no easy way out and that is what Europe is not really needing now." SV CYPRUS MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS GEORGE IACOVOU STEPPING OUT HIS CAR AND WALKING TOWARDS JOURNALISTS MCU CAMERAMEN FILMING THE ARRIVAL MCU (English) GEORGE IACOVOU, CYPRUS MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN ANSWER TO QUESTION, WHAT IF THEY VOTE 'NO', IS IT A BIG CRISIS IN EUROPE? SAYING: "I think it will influence others countries also to vote 'No'. It will not be a crisis but it will be a problem. But I think we will be able to face up to it." SV JACK STRAW, UK SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS STEPPING OUT OF HIS CAR CLOSE UP OF HAND WRITING IN NOTEBOOK MCU (English) JACK STRAW, UK SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS SAYING: "Obviously we as one of the signatories to the Constitution hope, as does President Chirac and Prime Minister Raffarin, Foreign Minister Barnier, that there is a 'Yes' vote. Because we believe that the Constitution is in the interests of all the peoples of Europe and that it is politically neutral. But it's a matter for the French citizens not for us." SV MIGUEL ANGEL MORATINOS, SPANISH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS GOING INTO THE BUILDING SV ITALIAN MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS GIANFRANCO FINI ARRIVING AT THE COUNCIL SV FRENCH MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS MICHEL BARNIER ARRIVING AT THE COUNCIL
  • Embargoed: 7th June 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4KB84L0B9M7HIPWHLGM2JC5DQ
  • Story Text: EU Foreign Ministers warn of crisis if France votes NO to referendum.
    European Union Foreign Ministers gathered in Brussels on Monday (May 23) for their last council before the French referendum on the European Constitution, next Sunday (May 29).
    Opinion polls put the "No" camp ahead in France as well as in the Netherlands, which votes on the treaty on June 1, raising the prospect of a double rejection which could hold up European integration and cause jitters on financial markets.
    A poll by Louis-Harris for the Liberation newspaper and i-TELE television channel said 52 percent of people who have decided how to vote plan to reject the treaty, but suggested one in four voters were still undecided. Several European Foreign ministers warned French voters of EU deadlock, if not a crisis.
    "They vote no but their vote is not about Europe,"
    Luxembourg's Foreign Minister delegate Nicholas Schmit told journalists, "They have to understand that they vote about the future of Europe not about the future of their internal politics. I really cannot understand those who consider themselves as pro-European and to push the French into really a deadlock", Schmit said. "A deadlock for France, but also a deadlock for Europe," he added.
    Asked about the consequences of a no vote, the Minister currently holding the EU Presidency said, "Well, we will enter a big crisis, there is no easy way out and that is what Europe is not really needing now."
    Less alarming was Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou :"I think it (a no vote) will influence others countries also to vote 'No'. It will not be a crisis but it will be a problem. But I think we will be able to face up to it," he told journalists.
    The constitution is intended to set new rules to make the EU work more smoothly following its enlargement in May 2004. Rejection could, in theory, kill it because it needs the approval of all 25 member states to go into force.
    A key swing group are left-wing voters, who are split into two camps. Most of the opposition Socialist Party's leaders back the charter and their main task in the last five days of campaigning is to persuade left-wing sympathisers to back them.
    The ruling conservatives are trying to convince people to vote on the merits of the constitution and not to think of it as a plebiscite on the government's unpopular economic policies.
    Opponents are maintaining their attacks on the EU in general and the treaty in particular, saying a better charter can be re-negotiated.
    Uncertainty over European integration has increased as a result of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's call for a national election a year early following his Social Democrats' defeat in a state election on Sunday.
    Campaigning in France is now going into overdrive, with each side rolling out its big guns at rallies and meetings throughout the country this week.
    Jack Straw, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said, "Obviously we as one of the signatories to the Constitution hope, as does President Chirac and Prime Minister Raffarin, Foreign Minister Barnier, that there is a 'Yes' vote. Because we believe that the Constitution is in the interests of all the peoples of Europe and that it is politically neutral. But it's a matter for the French citizens not for us."
    Schroeder and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will attend rallies on Friday to try boost the "Yes".
    Leaders of the "No" camp, including Socialist Laurent Fabius, will be prominent at "No" rallies planned throughout France.
    The constitution's supporters in France say it will help make decision-making easier, make Europe stronger and reinforce its economy. They say rejecting the charter would leave France isolated and there is no chance of re-negotiating the treaty.
    Opponents say the constitution imposes an economic model on the EU which they regard as too liberal, does not protect workers and will drive companies out of well-established member states such as France to countries with lower wages and costs.
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