AP News, December 15th, 2006
European leaders on Friday tried to revive efforts to adopt the proposed European Union constitution, which many declared dead last year after it was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands.
The 25 EU nations have moved from "silent reflection to a more active thinking" on the constitution, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen declared.
Spain and Luxembourg are seeking to enlist the majority of EU nations that voted in favor of the landmark constitutional treaty, in a drive get it back on track.
"Those having ratified the treaty _ these are 18 member states of the European Union _ have the right to become more outspoken," Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters Thursday.
Spain has called a "friends of the constitution" conference next month in Madrid for the 18 nations that supported the measure, including Bulgaria and Romania, which will join the EU formally on Jan. 1.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said she will try to revive the constitution _ intended to deepen Europe's integration _ during Germany's six-month presidency of the bloc starting in January.
What's not clear is how pro-constitution forces will move forward. France and the Netherlands both have said they will not hold repeat referendums, although some hope for a shift in the French position after next year's presidential election.
Although a majority of nations backed the text, it needs unanimous approval to come into force.
The constitution was designed to streamline EU decision-making following the entry of 10 new member nations in 2004. Without it, many leaders say it will be impossible to bring more members into the bloc.
"We don't think that further enlargements could be made without giving some deepening reform to Europe," Juncker said.
Previous EU treaties have been voted down by referendums in Ireland and Denmark, but both nations changed their minds in second votes after the texts were adjusted.
Even if the French and Dutch are persuaded to change their minds,though, the constitution would still face possible vetoes from British and Danes, traditional Euro-skeptics who must still vote on the charter.
The Swedes, Poles, Czechs, Irish and Portuguese have not yet voted on the compact, either.
Despite the uncertainty, supporters still think the constitution can eventually be adopted.
"We cannot throw out the entire text and start from scratch," said Finland's Vanhanen, whose country ratified the constitution last week.
Supporters of the constitution have suggested several ways out of the current impasse _ including incorporating some provisions of the charter in a "mini-treaty" that could be passed by the member states without further referendum votes.
