There’s something going wrong in the effort to persuade French voters to approve the European Constitution. The widespread opposition to the French Government’s proposals is not simply because of an apprehension over the issue of a single European State, but also because the voters in France wish to punish President Jacques Chirac for scandals such as that involving Finance minister Hervé Gaymard, and sustained high unemployment. The French opposition has been clear and sustained for a long period of time; this is not simply a swing in public opinion against the constitution. However, the Government and Brussels appear to be treating the situation as one where the people can be bought off and bribed as a way of convincing them this will actually benefit them.
Many Frenchmen wonder what the point is of supporting the constitution, which would replace the laundry list of treaties which has regulated relations between European states for the past half century. One possible explanation is Chirac’s argument for the necessity of political enlargement and consolidation in Europe. While he has distanced himself in recent months from talk of a “multi-polar world” to balance the U.S., that’s still precisely how he sees matters. As an editorial in L’Express recently put it, “It is time to say to the French people that Europe cannot take 15 years or more [to approve the constitution] faced with the American power and the rise of China.”
The European Presidency is currently held by Luxembourg, who has shown its support for French measures to bribe voters, latest of which is a commitment to cut VAT in restaurants from 19.5% to 5.5%, because the country’s most well off people need a break when dining out.
Although VAT levels are determined by the EU, M Chirac made an election campaign promise in 2002 to reduce the rate by 2006. Restaurant owners say this would enable them to increase profits, take on staff and slash prices. However, the decision rests with other EU governments, who must agree on tax issues.
The constitution is meant to be, for all intents and purposes, a fresh document that collects numerous treaties from the 1957 Treaty of Rome to the 1992 Maastricht Treaty to the 2001 Nice Treaty. By implementing a clean collection of the laws and aims of the Union, the Constitution sets out to all member states, in a way not confusing to a detailed reader, the interactions and approaches of each country and institution, from the way we regulate elections link, to the way members of the Euro currency interact link. The document isn’t meant to be short and pithy, isn’t meant to be eye-catching with policies that make the public love it, but it is meant to be a document that makes it easier for us all to understand how our Union works as well as its aims and adopted core values.
From the preamble to the Constitution:
DRAWING INSPIRATION from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, from which have developed the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law,
BELIEVING that Europe, reunited after bitter experiences, intends to continue along the path of civilisation, progress and prosperity, for the good of all its inhabitants, including the weakest and most deprived; that it wishes to remain a continent open to culture, learning and social progress; and that it wishes to deepen the democratic and transparent nature of its public life, and to strive for peace, justice and solidarity throughout the world,
CONVINCED that, while remaining proud of their own national identities and history, the peoples of Europe are determined to transcend their former divisions and, united ever more closely, to forge a common destiny.
We shouldn’t allow the public to be bought off and bribed in a way that makes a mockery of the institutions and the intentions of the Constitution. This is not a time for electioneering, or party politics, but for a clear head and a discussion about why we should want a single European Constitution and why, perhaps not.
Restaurant tax cut will make constitution easier to swallow
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