Just because the French didn't ratify the treaty doesn't mean it won't pass. they don't have a veto.
Nine countries have finished ratifying the treaty: Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
Referendum dates for others
The Netherlands: 1 June
Luxembourg: 10 July
Denmark: 27 September
Ireland: Late 2005
Portugal: Late 2005
UK: April to June 2006
Czech Republic: June 2006?
Poland: No date set
I'll bet a few of these countries won't let it through.
Britains won't let it pass they hate Europe, most even reject
decimalisation... Europe membership meant a free entry permit to britain for many eastern European Criminals. Most would like all the Eastern Europeans back out of Britain.
The new French PM is anti Bush, anti-islam his profile is at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2768503.stm
Originally posted by Tirau DanWhere do you get the 'fact' that most Britains reject decimalisation? I've never heard this quoted before and have only very very occassionally heard anyone wanting to go back to pounds, shillings & pence. Maybe back in 1971 there was strong feeling on this, but not anymore.
Britains won't let it pass they hate Europe, most even reject
decimalisation...
Do you mean there is strong feeling regarding the move from imperial measurement to metric?
Originally posted by Tirau DanWhat? You appear to know more than Tony Blair!!
UK: April to June 2006
This should read: No date set.
Anyway, the Dutch are set to reject it tomorrow, too.
Blair's hope is that by putting off setting a date, a few countries will reject it and he'll never have to set one.
That's looking ever more likely.
Originally posted by RedmikeI got the impression that countries can either 'ratify' or 'fail to ratify' the constitution. So in theory, even if they reject it they could ratify it later (eg after a general election) and it would still count. But yes, if it's clear that a country is never going to ratify the constitution, or least not in any sensible amount of time, it will be effectively abandoned as an EU treaty and we'll have to go back to th drawing board. It'll probably be several years before this mess is fully sorted out.
Yes, but if any single country rejects it, its gone.
So, the assertion that the treaty will still go through without France's support is incorrect.
Originally posted by AcolyteI agree.
I got the impression that countries can either 'ratify' or 'fail to ratify' the constitution. So in theory, even if they reject it they could ratify it later (eg after a general election) and it would still count. But yes, if it's clear that a country is never going to ratify the constitution, or least not in any sensible amount of time, it will be ef ...[text shortened]... ack to th drawing board. It'll probably be several years before this mess is fully sorted out.
If a country rejects the treaty, they could, in theory, just keep rerunning the referendum until they got the answer the wanted.
Indeed, didn't this happen with the Maastricht treaty (or maybe another treaty), where Denmark narrowly voted it down and they just waited 6 months and asked again, and got a narrow vote in favour?
In practise though, if a couple of countries have kicked the treaty into touch, they'll pretend they've re-negotiated it to take account of the peoples' concerns, re-package it, and enough of us will fall for it the 2nd time around.
Originally posted by Tirau DanErm, this is rubbish from start to finish. The constitution has to be ratified by all 25 nations - in other words, every nation has a veto.
Just because the French didn't ratify the treaty doesn't mean it won't pass. they don't have a veto.
Nine countries have finished ratifying the treaty: Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
Referendum dates for others
The Netherlands: 1 June
Luxembourg: 10 July
Denmark: 27 September
Ireland: Late 2 ...[text shortened]... is anti Bush, anti-islam his profile is at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2768503.stm
As for the stuff about Britain and decimalisation, I don't know what you're going on about there.
Rich.
This constitution doesn't stand a chance if it can be veteod by referenda.
At least half the counties will reject it if it is supported by their government.
No one has actually read it. Very few actually care what it says. Therefore people are motivated to vote for many reasons but hardly ever answer the question on the paper.
Kind of interesting that Iraq gets a constitution before the Europeans do. How long has Europe been trying to do this? And the Europeans were gonna show the U.S. how easy it was? <chuckle>
We damn Americans sure don't have to worry about Europe catching up to us any time soon... No wonder we kick Europe's collective butt in everything (except soccer, I'll grant you that)...
Good luck with your Constitution Europe...show us over here how easy it all is...
(Maybe we could send John Kerry and John McCain over there to help y'all work together, in a bi-partisan way). 😉
Originally posted by TheBloopActually, not very long at all.
Kind of interesting that Iraq gets a constitution before the Europeans do. How long has Europe been trying to do this? And the Europeans were gonna show the U.S. how easy it was? <chuckle>
Each of the individual countries have constitutions of course (except the UK), but the EU constitution is quite a new proposal.
Originally posted by richhoeyI withdraw and appologise Mr Speaker..
Erm, this is rubbish from start to finish. The constitution has to be ratified by all 25 nations - in other words, every nation has a veto.
As for the stuff about Britain and decimalisation, I don't know what you're going on about there.
Rich.
I misread the article 'Non' unlikely to halt economic reform
Analysis By Jorn Madslien BBC News business reporter.
The decimalisation comment was spawned from rellies in UK who said many shops were reverting to imperial weights and measures...pints in the pubs etc. I was surprised Britain still had MPH on speed limits and dash boards.. when I left in 1974 they had the new Euro signs everywhere.
Dan