In an attempt to create a single entity out of many disparate elements, specialists have devised a proposed “Constitution” for the European Union.
Several Nation-State Members of the E.U. are holding referendums over the proposal. Although a referendum is not binding upon a national government, it is seen as a clear expression of the will of the electorate.
Nowhere, however, have voters been asked to actually participate in the formation of the Constitution, not even by offering suggestions. That has been left to the “experts’. Voters are asked merely to accept or reject the proposed Constitution, in toto.
Nevertheless, it is essential that the electorate have a good understanding of what they are being offered. We hope that our European readers will attempt to analyse the entire document before voting.
France holds the referendum, this Sunday, 29 May; The Netherlands, on the First of June.
Please see:
Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
Full text of the Constitution
Choose your language:
http://europa.eu.int/constitution/index_en.htm
and
Summary of the Constitution
This document is a non-paper prepared by the Commission in order to provide information. It has no legal status and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European institutions.
http://europa.eu.int/constitution/summary_en.htm
For a comparison with other Constitutions, please see:
http://confinder.richmond.edu/
Since the European Union is composed of independent nations, one may also wish to remember the Charter of the United Nations: http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/
For some commentary, please see:
Newropeans Magazine on the Proposed Constitution:
http://www.newropeans-magazine.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=77&Itemid=125
Statewatch Observatory on EU Constitution http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
Referendum Constitution Europeenne
http://www.fil-info-france.com/actualites-monde/referendum,constitution,europeenne.htm
and
[Comment] Constitution fails fundamental tests
A Constitution should be comprehensible for the people it will govern. This
EU Constitution wins first prize for complexity, writes Susan George, Board
Chair of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam.
http://euobserver.com/?aid=19115&rk=1
Dutch No looks irreversible
Less than two weeks before the Dutch referendum on the EU Constitution,
pollsters see a rejection of the treaty as irreversible, with a row over
the Eurovision song contest apparently boosting the "no" camp.
http://euobserver.com/?aid=19120&rk=1
Giscard defends own EU Constitution
http://euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=19150
The NO Campaign http://www.nocampaign.com
The PCEU: An Alternative Constitution for Europe, from RISQ
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1053&blz=1
UPDATES
The "U.N. OBSERVER" will publish our own analysis of the E.U. constitutional situation, after the dust has settled.
European Constitution rejected
The political consequences of the French “no” vote
By Peter Schwarz
1 June 2005
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jun2005/fran-j01.shtml
The Netherlands: decisive “no” vote on European constitution
By Chris Marsden
2 June 2005
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jun2005/neth-j02.shtml
Everything you ever wanted to know about the European Constitution ... and some things you probably didn't
http://www.sundayherald.com/50034
Several Nation-State Members of the E.U. are holding referendums over the proposal. Although a referendum is not binding upon a national government, it is seen as a clear expression of the will of the electorate.
Nowhere, however, have voters been asked to actually participate in the formation of the Constitution, not even by offering suggestions. That has been left to the “experts’. Voters are asked merely to accept or reject the proposed Constitution, in toto.
Nevertheless, it is essential that the electorate have a good understanding of what they are being offered. We hope that our European readers will attempt to analyse the entire document before voting.
France holds the referendum, this Sunday, 29 May; The Netherlands, on the First of June.
Please see:
Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
Full text of the Constitution
Choose your language:
http://europa.eu.int/constitution/index_en.htm
and
Summary of the Constitution
This document is a non-paper prepared by the Commission in order to provide information. It has no legal status and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European institutions.
http://europa.eu.int/constitution/summary_en.htm
For a comparison with other Constitutions, please see:
http://confinder.richmond.edu/
Since the European Union is composed of independent nations, one may also wish to remember the Charter of the United Nations: http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/
For some commentary, please see:
Newropeans Magazine on the Proposed Constitution:
http://www.newropeans-magazine.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=77&Itemid=125
Statewatch Observatory on EU Constitution http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm
Referendum Constitution Europeenne
http://www.fil-info-france.com/actualites-monde/referendum,constitution,europeenne.htm
and
[Comment] Constitution fails fundamental tests
A Constitution should be comprehensible for the people it will govern. This
EU Constitution wins first prize for complexity, writes Susan George, Board
Chair of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam.
http://euobserver.com/?aid=19115&rk=1
Dutch No looks irreversible
Less than two weeks before the Dutch referendum on the EU Constitution,
pollsters see a rejection of the treaty as irreversible, with a row over
the Eurovision song contest apparently boosting the "no" camp.
http://euobserver.com/?aid=19120&rk=1
Giscard defends own EU Constitution
http://euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=19150
The NO Campaign http://www.nocampaign.com
The PCEU: An Alternative Constitution for Europe, from RISQ
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1053&blz=1
UPDATES
The "U.N. OBSERVER" will publish our own analysis of the E.U. constitutional situation, after the dust has settled.
European Constitution rejected
The political consequences of the French “no” vote
By Peter Schwarz
1 June 2005
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jun2005/fran-j01.shtml
The Netherlands: decisive “no” vote on European constitution
By Chris Marsden
2 June 2005
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jun2005/neth-j02.shtml
Everything you ever wanted to know about the European Constitution ... and some things you probably didn't
http://www.sundayherald.com/50034