After French ‘Non’, Dutch say ‘Nee’ to EU charter

The resounding ‘No’ is the latest sign of Dutch anger with the political elite since the 2002 murder of anti-immigration populist Pim Fortuyn, with unease stoked by last year’s killing of a filmmaker critical of Islam.

The rejection of the charter by the Netherlands, like France one of the six countries that founded the bloc in the 1950s, could deliver a fatal blow to the treaty designed to make the EU run better following its enlargement from 15 to 25 states.

The Latvian Parliament is expected to approve the treaty with a big majority on Thursday, meaning 10 members representing almost half the EU’s 454 million citizens will have approved it.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair hinted after the French vote that the Dutch result could help determine whether he calls off a referendum next year in his eurosceptic country.

If EU leaders do halt ratification, analysts warn the bloc could sink into an extended period of introspection with repeat referendums unlikely, given the strength of the French and Dutch opposition and renegotiation of the charter also difficult.

While most Dutch were hostile to the constitution, they seemed keen to make their voice heard in the country’s first national referendum, with turnout seen much higher than the 39.1 per cent who voted in European Parliament elections last year. The Dutch vote is not legally binding, but lawmakers say they will be guided by it if turnout is over 30 per cent.

Opposition has been driven by a range of issues including concerns about a loss of control over immigration, opposition to Turkey’s bid to join the bloc and concerns that Brussels might undermine liberal Dutch policies on gay marriage and abortion.

Many Dutch feel short-changed by the introduction of the euro, are concerned about losing clout in a continually expanding EU and are unhappy with being the biggest contributors per head to the bloc’s multi-billion euro budget.

The referendum was also seen as a vote of no confidence in the centre-right government of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, which has pushed through budget cuts and welfare reforms despite a stagnant economy and rising unemployment.

But domestic fallout from a Dutch ‘Nee’ is seen as limited, unlike the French ‘Non’, which led to the Prime Minister’s exit. Balkenende has insisted he will not quit. —Reuters

Britain may abandon vote on constitution

Britain’s plan to hold a referendum next year on the proposed European Union constitution looked in doubt on Tuesday, as Europeans sought to come to grips with the French rejection of the blueprint to further integrate Europe. —LAT-WP