The French referendum on the European Constitution failed decisively yesterday. The treaty is dead now, as is the constitutional project, although elements of it will probably come back once the integrationists have some time to lick their wounds and try to regroup. It's especially humiliating for French Europhiles (and Jacques Chirac, particularly), since the whole constitutional project was arguably the brain child of Valery Giscard d'Estaing.
What does it mean? European integration will languish for at least the next five years. In my opinion, it's a pity because Europe really needs to start moving in the same direction in order to face a world populated by a resurgent Russia, a rising China and a psychotically out-of-control United States. I respect the history and practicality of the European nation-state, but for God's sake, we've got to start pulling our act together if we're not going to get steamrolled.
It's funny how I'm probably the most outspoken European integrationist I know, even though I'm not even from here. Or maybe it's because I'm not from here that I can more clearly see the growing danger abroad. There are many worse things to fear than a United States of Europe, and a multipolar world with rules of behavior based on compromise and mutual respect can't be worse than what we have now.
Posted by case at May 30, 2005 09:38 PM