in luxemburg iese da
"Vali (Gmail)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
"Vali (Gmail)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> ar fi bine ca alte state sa nu mai respinga constitutia
> pentru daca e respinsa de 6 state adio, ne intoarcem la nisa.
Pai stati asa, ca asta-i doar inceputul. Acum se pregateste si Luxemburgul!
Vali
---------------------
No-vote lobby gains ground in usually pro-Europe Luxembourg
By Sarah Laitner and George Parker in Brussels
Published: June 1 2005 03:00 | Last updated: June 1 2005 03:00
If aFrench rejection of Europe's constitutional treaty seemed unlikely
earlier this year, a No vote by passionately pro-Europe Luxembourg would
have been inconceivable.
But after the political shockwaves created by the overwhelming French No
vote and the expectation that the Dutch will reject the constitution today,
even Luxembourg's endorsement is no longer certain.
While the Luxembourg Yes camp remains in the lead, opponents are gaining
ground ahead of the referendum on July 10 in the tiny Grand Duchy, which
houses many of the European Union's big institutions.
The Yes camp's share narrowed from 59 per cent last month to 46 per cent in
May, while support for the No vote grew from 23 per cent to 32 per cent,
according to the Ilres polling group.
Rejection could cause profound changes to the country's political scene
because Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister, has threatened to quit if the
referendum is lost.
"Up until now Luxembourg was very pro-Europe and favourable towards European
integration," says Robert Goebbels, one of the country's MEPs. "This
[change] is a surprise. It seems frustration is coming out."
A strong showing by the No camp or outright rejection would be another
demonstration of the disenchantment emerging towards the new, expanded
European Union in its founder member states.
It would also show that even the EU's richest country, and the biggest net
beneficiary of aid from the bloc's budget, could fall out of love with
Europe.
Luxembourg is a model example of European unity. Foreigners make up almost
40 per cent of the population and thousands of cross-border workers commute
to the landlocked country daily. But Luxembourgers are using the campaign to
reveal fears about integration and in particular unease at not being
consulted either on the bloc's eastward enlargement last year or the
possible entry of Muslim Turkey.
They are also expected to use their first referendum since 1937 to
demonstrate the fears they share with the French of a supposed Anglo-Saxon
free market takeover of the bloc.
The political establishment in the country is firmly behind the treaty, with
the No campaign led by extreme left- and rightwing groups.
Mr Juncker, Christian Democrat prime minister since 1995, remains popular
among the population of 460,000 and has been lauded for the way he has
steered complex negotiations during Luxembourg's current six- month
presidency of the EU.
Commentators say that, unlike in France, rejection or a strong No vote would
not be a sign of voters trying to give their leader a bloody nose.
"This would not be a protest against prime minister Juncker," says Laurent
Moyse, editor of the centrist newspaper La Voix du Luxembourg.
"I am not sure for the moment people are thinking about his future. They are
thinking more about Luxembourg's future in Europe."
But rejection would raise the stakes considerably for the EU's
longest-serving leader, who retains ambitions of holding high office in
Brussels.
Mr Juncker is already the political "Mr Euro" for the single currency, the
semi-permanent chair of the monthly eurogroup meeting of eurozone finance
ministers.
He is also tipped to become the first full-time president of the European
Council - a post that would be created if the European constitution was
ratified.
C Copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2005
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/2e150ede-d23b-11d9-8c82-00000e2511c8.html
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