Cyprus The European Constitution - Pros and Cons

magikthrill · lecturer

In light of France's probable future rejection of the constitution is anyone aware of this constitution (which i barely am) and any of its pros or cons?

erolz · lecturer

cannedmoose · professor

I got a copy from Brussels, managed to read 30 pages before I gave up... it'll be a close run thing in France, but the Dutch referendum is looking like a definite no right now... they vote next week...

magikthrill · lecturer

sweet. actually this is the link i was looking for: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4483817.stm

ie why the french are going to vote no. i feel like this sunday is more important than it seems to be. maybeim wrong

cannedmoose · professor

Many French people will vote no because they are disillusioned with the direction that the EU is taking. France used to be the driving force behind the policies adopted by the Union and they increasingly see Anglo-saxon models adopted and a drift away from their vision. There is also a backlash against the potential for mass-migration from the new states (France has a deep-rooted xenophobia that expresses itself in these things)... PLUS, there's the issue of Turkey, which is playing on some peoples minds and is fanned by the inflammatory speeches of Jean-Marie Le Pen and the Fronte Nationale.

I also think it comes down to a lack of education about what the new constitution is designed for. That's the problem such a vote will face in the UK where trying to communicate something complex to the millions of chavs in this country who regard anything foreign as traitorous, is like getting blood out of a stone.

magikthrill · lecturer

cannedmoose · professor

Could happen eventually, I despair of my fellow 'subjects' and their close-mindedness to all things over the water... let me out of this god-foresaken land...

city · instructor

well, as far as I'm aware of the issue I think that this constitution does not manifest anything new in terms of regulations or laws or whatsoever. Its more like a compilation of all the single orders, regulations etc that already exist.

But I will probably not look to deep into this as we here in Germany will not be asked. The government already did decide for us. Sad

Now for the French this is something different as they have been one of the driving forces of the whole EU thing. I have no idea how this will go on in case they vote no, cause it has already been said that there will be no negotiations afterwards to fix this.

garbitsch · lecturer

1- There is a huge democratic deficit between the EU and the ordinary citizens. They have no idea about what's going on in Brussels so they are manipulated by the national actors, i.e. parties etc. This is the main reason why some countries like France and Netherlands will vote no.
2- Another reason is, countries like France claim that EU constitution will make the free market operate through the guidelines of neo-liberalism, i.e. laisses-faire. This will cause impact on the countries following "national champions model" such as France and ITaly. These countries give subsidies to important firms and according to neo-liberal tradition the govt should not interfere in the demand side of the economy. French thinks the EU is going to be shaped according to the Anglo-saxon tradition.
3- In France, the Armenians pressurise the French govt to advocate for the inclusion of "recognition of the Armenian genocide" as part of the requirements for Turkey's accession to EU. A couple of days ago, for the first time Chirac used the term "Genocide" hoping to increase the YES votes by the Armenian voters.
4- The Dutch and the Czech believe this constitution will increase the powers of bigger states and the small states will lose authority over the decision making.

These are the things I know so far about why people are going to vote no.

turkcyp · lecturer

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