EU constitution architect warns against rejection News
EU constitution architect warns against rejection

[JURIST] With uncertainty looming in France, former French president and architect of the European Constitution Valery Giscard D'Estaing [Wikipedia profile] warned on Thursday that there could be no renegotiation of the treaty if French voters reject it in a referendum on May 29. Spain's government ratified the document Wednesday [JURIST report] after strong support in a non-binding public referendum and an official vote by the country's senate. But in France, the issue is much more divided [Times report], with "non" forces in the lead in most polls. A recent UK poll suggests serious opposition [JURIST report] to the constitution there as well. All 25 EU member nations must ratify the pact for it to come into effect. Questions have been raised as to whether the UK would bother to go ahead with a referendum if the French vote failed, but British ministers speaking Wednesday said although French rejection would present a problem [Guardian report] they had undertaken an obligation and would meet it unless EU authorities indicated otherwise. AFP has more.