Hidden Nook
"Because in Cyberspace, no one can hear you scream."
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
The Dutch Say "No!"
[Media Source*]
(EU Observer) The Netherlands has rejected the EU constitution, with 61.6 percent of the Dutch voting against the text and 38.4 in favour, official results show...
Reacting to the result, Dutch prime minister Jan-Peter Balkenende said his government "respected this outcome completely" although he was "very disappointed" with the result.
"A No is a No and that means a No to the Constitutional Treaty", said the prime minister.
Despite the second deadly blow to the European Constitution, the Dutch are still calling on other nations such as the United Kingdom, Denmark and Ireland to vote on whether they approve on the referendum as there are signs they may not even hold one. According to the polls, the Dutch voted against the EU Constitution citing that such a move would reduce the Netherlands sovereignty throughout Europe, as well as claiming that the moves to solidify Europe were being rushed too quickly.
Although this might seem like a total rejection of the constitution from the Netherlands, the Dutch seem to be more optimistic about a united Europe than their french counterparts.
(EU Observer) Seventy-three percent of respondents said that the EU should be "much more democratic". Strikingly, according to Mr de Hond's poll, less than half backed the idea of a common EU foreign policy.
Forty-five percent of respondents agreed that "there should be one approach to foreign policy in the EU, not separate approaches of every single country."
Although Europe currently is in a state of political confusion (collectively but not individually), resolving the differences in the constitution is going to become a difficult task for the future leader of the EU. Despite a hard political fight, Chirac has lost favor with his own people and seems to have as well lost some of France's influence in shaping the EU Constitution, as it will be up to England (and other future "nay sayers") to decide the construct of the document that will bind the continent together.
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By Darnell Clayton ⢠10:33 PM ⢠Email Post ⢠â¢
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