EU parliament backs constitution

[dplax]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4167455.stm

The European Parliament has endorsed the proposed European Constitution in a vote in Wednesday.

MEPs overwhelmingly backed the text and called on all EU governments to promote the benefits of the constitution for the public.

Five hundred deputies in Strasbourg voted in favour, with 137 against and 40 abstentions.

All 25 EU states must back the text by public referendum or parliamentary vote before it can be implemented.

Ten countries have so far confirmed that they will hold referendums on whether to sign the constitution, which was agreed at a summit meeting of European leaders in Brussels in June.

Spain will hold the first referendum. The government has launched a high profile publicity campaign, which includes distributing pamphlets at football matches, in the run-up to the vote on 20 February.

Lithuania and Hungary, two of the 10 countries to join the EU last May, have both ratified the constitution by parliamentary vote.

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, had urged the European Parliament to back the treaty.

"The ratification will not be easy everywhere," he said. "Of course the constitution is not perfect, but let's judge this by the yardstick of what Europe needs."

[ 01-12-2005, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: dplax ]

[Dreamer128]

This constitution will be a great step forward. And I certainly hope people will bother to actually look at the constitution before voting in a referendum. I fear many will use these referendums as an excuse to punish their national governments or vote against the EU. On the bright side, I think the Dutch may actually vote in favour. All parties, save the extreme-left and religious right, have voiced their support for the constitution. I'll certainly keep my fingers crossed.

[ 01-13-2005, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: Dreamer128 ]

[Spelca]

The problem people have with the constitution is not what's in it, but the fact that it is a constitution - a step towards a state (just like the currency was).

[Dreamer128]

Actually, if you look at the contents of the Constitution, you'll see it pushes us more in the direction of a 'federal Europe' then towards a Super State.

[Spelca]

I think that people who'll vote against won't say no to the constitution, but to the EU. And that's been the problem of the EU from the begining...

Nevertheless, I doubt people like the idea of a federal Europe any better. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Dreamer128]

True enough. However, the EU is already a hybrid of a Federation and a Confederation. And people should be smarter then to vote against the constitution just because they don't like the EU. I don't always like my government, but joining an anarchist movement and seeing it abolished won't solve anything. Instead, one should strife to improve it by excersing your right to vote or actively joining a lobby group. Voting against the Constitution will make the Union nearly impossible to govern, and since the EU isn't really going anywhere, 455 million people will be the victims of this. So I really hope people wil think twice before casting their votes. Voting is more then just a right, it's also a privilege, and should therefor be spend wisely. Too many people I know just vote without ever reading the program of their party of choice. And I doubt many people will be reading as much as a summary of this constitution before voting in the referendum.

[ 01-16-2005, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Dreamer128 ]