TP: The Europe That Was (John Horvath)

[dummy-du1]

The Europe That Was

John Horvath 31.05.2005

Fallout from the French referendum

Throughout Central and Eastern Europe the reaction to the rejection of the EU constitution by France was mixed. Euroskeptics on both sides of the political divide celebrated the news. The political elite, on the other hand, were more grave and tried to put a brave face on it all. For the vast majority, however, people just simply shrugged their shoulders and went on with their everyday lives.

For the political elites of Central and Eastern Europe and, to a lesser extent, the regular citizens who are actively supportive of the EU, the result of the French referendum was taken as a personal rebuff. Most were now concerned not of the legal implications, but of financial considerations. Indeed, for most new member states the constitution itself isn't that important. What the French vote did was raise fears in Central and Eastern Europe that they now won't be getting as much money from Brussels as before.

Without a doubt, such a prospect would have a devastating impact on many of the governments in the region. Their main selling point of EU membership was primarily economic; in other words, how much money they were going to get from Brussels and how this money would help to alleviate present problems and contribute to the modernising of their societies, namely in terms of infrastructure development. Not surprisingly, in most cases these promises have yet to be fulfilled.

Apart from economic considerations, a rejection of the EU constitution has been viewed by some regional pundits as a belated vote on EU expansion. This not only carries with it a certain psychological effect for the new member states who had joined barely a year before, but also raises uncertainty for the future of those waiting in the wings. Not only are governments in Bucharest and Sofia concerned about how their accession to the EU will be impacted by a rejection of the EU constitution, but in Istanbul the prospect of EU membership has now become that much dimmer.

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[bennywhale]

1. It was a vote against what the French call "De-localisation" Basically the

French are voting against globalisation and the insecurities that come with it. A lot of them saw the Constitution as a cementing of relaxed laws for big business. The European dream was a dream based on 'peace in the most violent continent on earth', and a 'society based on the needs of the people'.

The needs of the powerful has taken over tyhe EU and the French have told them to Fuck off. Good on them.

[Wright Patman]

2. Quick! Airdrop several million

copies of Thomas Friedman's works translated into French.

After a few weeks of contemplating his brilliant prose, they will realize how "flat" they are and that resistant to the Borg is futile.