"May we"
[a blog entry for the benefit of our American "audience"]

"Mais oui!" Jacques Chirac's plaintive cry as his constituents vote "Non" today. The big news over on this side of the pond right now is that France is voting on the EU Constitution. This is a very devisive issue and something we're still struggling to understand. But the prediction is that France will end up with a "no" majority and so will Holland when they vote on Wednesday. This will send EU politics into turmoil and make Tony Blair's life hell when he takes over his post as EU President on July 1st (this seat of power shifts every two years, if I remember correctly). And of course, voting "no" is voting against a constitution. The proposed constitution would make the EU more like the US in so much as there will be "federal" laws and "state" laws. This is a major flashpoint within the debates because obviously the 25 nations in the EU have very different laws and cultures. Most countries are very reluctant to give these up in favor of a more homogenous EU government. According to the Sunday London Times, this is the basic idea behind the constitution:

"The Key Elements of the Constitution
The EU already has rights to legislate over external trade, agriculture and many areas of domestic law. The constitution will extend its rights to some new areas, most controversially into criminal justice, asylum and immigration.

-Enshrines EU law as supreme over national law, though opt-outs remain
-Creates a full-time (but unelected) president of the EU, a foreign minister and diplomatic service.
-Incorporates the EU charter of fundamental rights into law, guaranteeing freedom of thought and many other basic rights for the first time
-Preserves member states' vetoes on direct taxation, foreign and defence policy, but allows majority EU voting in other areas
-Allows states to opt in or out of new initiatives. Also allows them to leave the EU"

[Source: The Sunday Times, May 29, 2005, pg. 13]

As you can see, it's a bit complicated and since neither of us fully understand it just yet, we'll refrain from weighing in with an opinion on the matter. From what I've read, I think I'd personally vote "no" myself because I believe in the countries maintaining their separate "flavor" and culture, but I'll avoid going into a debate about this because I don't know enough about it.

In any case, it will be very interesting to see how this unfolds. If you think cynically, we could be looking at a complete break-down of the EU. Or it might just prolong the inevitable. Who knows? Anyway, it's not looking very good for Jacques Chirac right now since he's the one that has been campaigning full-time for this constitution.

-RP-