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European Union

EU Leaders Tread Carefully Ahead of French EU Constitution Vote

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the French referendum on the European Union constitution draws near, EU leaders are choosing their words carefully to avoid upsetting French President Jacques Chirac. In response, the European Commission has put on hold sensitive decisions affecting France until after the May 29 poll. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has been avoiding making statements that might be seen as critical of Chirac's efforts to win a "Yes" vote in the referendum. The Commission's reluctance to take a strong stance on the EU's constitution has sparked concerns about the union's ability to make key decisions in the coming months.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Commission has put on hold sensitive decisions affecting France until after the May 29 French referendum on the EU constitution.
  • Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has been avoiding making statements that might be seen as critical of French President Jacques Chirac's efforts to win a "Yes" vote in the referendum.
  • The Commission has shelved a plan to tighten up state aid rules to industry and rewritten controversial legislation to open the EU's market in services.
  • Detailed discussion of the next seven-year EU budget round has been postponed, despite plans to reach an agreement by mid-June.
  • EU Commissioner Olli Rehn has insisted that "enlargement and the constitutional treaty are not related," despite concerns that a "No" vote in the French referendum could bring the enlargement process to a halt.
  • There are strained relations between Commission President Barroso and French President Chirac, with Chirac reportedly having a low opinion of Barroso's leadership.
  • French officials have accused Barroso of having an "irritating ability to sound like a liberal when addressing a business audience" and peddling a more French-friendly vision of a "social Europe" to trade unionists.

Statistics:

  • May 29: The date scheduled for the French referendum on the EU constitution.
  • 25: The number of member states in the EU after its enlargement to include new member countries.
  • 10-12 June: The period during which weeks of normal political work will be packed into for the rotating EU presidency.
  • 16-17 June: The dates of the end-of-presidency summit.

Sources:

  • "Country Briefing from Financial Times" by George Parker and Daniel Dombey in Brussels.
  • Financial Times Information Limited.

(c) 2005

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