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A Constitution for Europe and other constitutions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2005

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The spring of 2005 saw major set-backs for the Treaty of Rome of 29 October 2004, establishing what it calls ‘a Constitution for Europe’. On 29 May, the French rejected the Treaty in their referendum by 54,8% (turnout 70%). Then the Dutch rejected it on 1 June by an even more massive 61,7% (turnout 63%). In response to these refusals the member states agreed to a ‘reflection period’ and a suspension of the ratification deadline at the European Council of 16 and 17 June. In the subsequent 10 July Luxembourg referendum 56,2% of the electorate voted in favour (obligatory vote), a significant drop from polls in October 2004, but at least creating a simple majority of 13 member states to ratify the document. But the UK put its ratification on hold, followed by other countries.

Type
Editorial
Copyright
© Asser Press 2005