US keeps its head down as Europe agonizes over constitution.

[Flagg]

WASHINGTON, May 22 (AFP) - The United States is doing its best not to be seen as taking sides as the European Union agonises over whether to approve a landmark constitution.
The US administration is keenly watching events, according to diplomats. Top officials say they want a strong Europe, but they studiously avoid commenting on the referendums on the constitution to be held in France next weekend and in the Netherlands on June 1.
The State Department insists the result -- which polls indicate is too close to call -- is for Europe to decide.
Some European leaders are suspicious of the silence, however.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said the United States and other Anglo-Saxon countries "do not like the idea of a constitution, this strengthening of Europe."
Juncker said that US officials would be happy to see a French "no," because it "would correspond to their idea of a weak Europe".
French President Jacques Chirac has also played the anti-American card in his campaigning for the May 29 vote.
"What is the interest of the Anglo-Saxon countries, especially the United States? It is naturally to stop European construction, which risks creating a Europe that will be stronger to defend itself tomorrow," Chirac stormed during a nationally televised debate in April.

<snip>

"The thing which is disturbing to me and others who wish the European Union well is that the basis of the discussion in France about the referendum is not really much about what is in the constitutional treaty," said Wells.
"It's about Turkey or it's about services directives, social policy and liberalism; it's about the nature of the government, the fact that a lot of people are tired of Chirac. This is frustrating, and it just points out what a risky and somewhat flawed instrument a referendum is on something that

http://www.adetocqueville.com/200505220801.j4m811d20720.htm

[3waygeek]

1. Why don't we just

give the EU our Constitution? We apparently have no use for it. :sarcasm:

[Cocottelle]

2. yes we do

They carefully placed it in the Presidential Bathroom, last I heard. However, he is so constipated it is still intact.

[DireStrike]

3. The constitution is simply TOO BIG.

Have you read it? Me neither. It's just a vehicle to provide the powerful with endless loopholes to rape and pillage those without influence.

[makhno]

4. The politics of those supporting the "yes" vote ...

... in France and the Netherlands tell us everything about who stands to benefit from the new constitution.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. That's the centre parties

so what are you told? That the average person benefits from the constitution?

[makhno]

7. This is a bit late, but

I wouldn't suggest that the centrist parties have the interests of the working class as their top priority. The right, as well as the right wing of the European socialists, are firmly committed to the neo liberal agenda.

The enemies of the worker movement are the loudest in lamenting a European future without the new constitution.

[DemExpat]

6. That's what I'm afraid of.......

:-(

DemEx