EU leaders urge continued referendums on constitution after French setback News
EU leaders urge continued referendums on constitution after French setback

[JURIST] Despite France's rejection of the EU constitution in Sunday's national referendum [JURIST report], EU leaders are calling on the 15 European nations that have not yet made a decision on the Constitution to continue with whatever decision-making process was chosen for their nation. The next constitutional referendum is scheduled for the Netherlands [government website in Dutch] on 1 June and recent polls suggest a convincing no-vote [JURIST report] there as well. EU leaders have said that all the remaining nations of the EU must complete the voting process, even though the EU draft constitution [official website] requires that all 25 current EU members approve the draft in order for it to take effect. Opponents in the Netherlands have called Wednesday's vote a 'waste of time,' insisting that the entire EU draft constitution is defunct with France's No. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the defeat of the new EU charter in France was cause for "reflection" but told reporters that "If there is a constitutional treaty to vote upon we will have a vote in Britain before ratifying it." JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of the EU constitution [JURIST news archive]. AFP has more.