News
Releases
No.
58/05
May 31, 2005
JOINT
DECLARATION BY THE PRESIDENTS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,
EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON THE RESULTS
OF THE FRENCH REFERENDUM ON THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTIONAL
TREATY
On
Sunday May 29th, a joint statement was given by President
of the European Parliament Josep
Borrell Fontelles, President of The European Council,
Jean-Claude Juncker, and President of The European Commission
José Manuel Barroso on the rejection of the French
Referendum on the European
Constitutional Treaty.
"The French voters have today, Sunday 29 May,
chosen to say no to the ratification of the Constitutional
treaty. We take note of this.
"We regret this choice, coming as it does from a
Member State that has been for the last 50 years one of
the essential motors of the building of our common future.
"We completely respect the expression of the democratic
will that has made itself felt at the end of an intense
debate. The result of the French referendum deserves a
profound analysis, in the first instance, on the part
of the French authorities. The Institutions of the European
Union should also, for their part, reflect on the results
of the collected ratification processes.
"It is important to remember that nine Member States,
representing almost half (49%) of the European population
have already ratified the Constitutional Treaty, in one
case on the basis of a broadly positive referendum and
that the majority of Member States have not yet had the
opportunity to complete the ratification process.
"The tenor of the debate in France, and the result
of the referendum also reinforce our conviction that the
relevant national and European politicians must do more
to explain the true scale of what is at stake, and the
nature of the answers that only Europe can offer. We continue
to believe that a response at thee European level remains
the best and the most effective in the face of accelerating
global change.
"We must ask ourselves how each among us – national
governments, European institutions, political parties,
social partners, civil society – can contribute to a better
understanding of this project, which cannot have its own
legitimacy without listening to its citizens.
"The building of Europe is, by its nature, complex.
Europe has already known difficult moments and it has
every time emerged from them strengthened, better than
before, ready to face its challenges and its responsibilities.
Today Europe continues, and its institutions function
fully. We are aware of the difficulties, but we have confidence
that once again we will find the means to move the European
Union forward. Together, we are determined to contribute
to this."
Further Contact Information
Press and Media Relations
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766
