Are There Any Europeans in Europe?

Abstract

The only thing that should have caused 29 May 2005 to be a little different from any other sunny and lazy Sunday in France’s seasonal march towards the long summer holiday period is that it was Mother’s Day. One thing is sure though: few people are likely to remember it as Mother’s Day. What this particular Sunday will be remembered for is that it was the day French citizens kicked Project Europe in the teeth by shouting a loud ‘Non’ to the so-called European Constitution that had finally been submitted to popular referendum after a long period of gestation and heated debate among EU members. The French didn’t care in the least that the Constitution they rejected with so much gusto had been written by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, a former French President (technically the term constitution was incorrect since Europe is not a country, the document was in fact a treaty among nations). Adding insult to injury, another popular referendum, held in Holland, resulted in yet another rejection a few days later. Together these constituted a knock-out victory for ‘No’. The British, sensing there was no particular need to court embarrassment, wisely let it be known they wouldn’t proceed with the referendum they had planned to hold.