フランス、EU憲法にNO | 英語のニュース | The Japan Times ST オンライン

World News

France says no to EU constitution

PARIS (AP) - French voters rejected the European Union's first constitution May 29.

With votes counted in all of France and its overseas territories, the "no" camp had 54.87 percent, with only 45.13 percent voting "yes."

The treaty's rejection in France - the architect of the European project - could set the continent's plans back by years and amounts to a personal humiliation for President Jacques Chirac.

Although Chirac argued that the constitution would streamline EU decision-making and make the bloc more accessible to its 450 million citizens, opponents feared it would strip France of its sovereignty and generous social system and trigger an influx of cheap labor.

All 25 EU members must ratify the text for it to take effect as planned by Nov. 1, 2006. Nine already have done so: Austria, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

But on June 1 Dutch voters, worried about social benefits and immigration, overwhelmingly rejected the constitution 62 percent to 38 percent.

Meanwhile, in France, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin resigned and was replaced by Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin.

Shukan ST: June 10, 2005

●英字新聞社ジャパンタイムズによる英語学習サイト。英語のニュース、英語教材、TOEIC、リスニング、英語の発音、ことわざ、などのコンテンツを無料で提供。
	脚注を印刷吹き出し表示フレーム表示
World News France says no to EU constitution PARIS (AP) - French voters rejected the European Union's first constitution May 29. With votes counted in all of France and its overseas territories, the "no" camp had 54.87 percent, with only 45.13 percent voting "yes." The treaty's rejection in France - the architect of the European project - could set the continent's plans back by years and amounts to a personal humiliation for President Jacques Chirac. Although Chirac argued that the constitution would streamline EU decision-making and make the bloc more accessible to its 450 million citizens, opponents feared it would strip France of its sovereignty and generous social system and trigger an influx of cheap labor. All 25 EU members must ratify the text for it to take effect as planned by Nov. 1, 2006. Nine already have done so: Austria, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. But on June 1 Dutch voters, worried about social benefits and immigration, overwhelmingly rejected the constitution 62 percent to 38 percent. Meanwhile, in France, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin resigned and was replaced by Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin. Shukan ST: June 10, 2005 (C) All rights reserved