International   

A failed project: U.K.

Luxembourg: Britain has given its strongest indication that it regards the European Constitution as dead when Margaret Beckett declared that the ``grandiose project'' had failed. In remarks which went beyond Tony Blair's carefully crafted comments on the Constitution, the British Foreign Secretary made clear that she would not sanction any attempt to revive the measure in its present form. She indicated that changes would need to be introduced if the E.U. is to admit new members after the arrival of Romania and Bulgaria on January 1. Her remarks go a little further than Mr. Blair's pronouncements on the Constitution since French and Dutch voters rejected it last year. Reporting to the Commons in June on the European summit at which E.U. leaders agreed to defer the ``period of reflection'' on the constitution until next year, Mr. Blair said: ``As for whether the Constitution is dead or not, that depends not simply on me, but on all the other countries in Europe. What is very obvious, however, is that it cannot be proceeded with unless there is an overturning of the French and Dutch No votes.'' —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Iraq to hold unity meet
Mystery injuries after Israeli attacks in Gaza
Merger: Colombo to seek legal opinion
Defence Minister to fight Royal
N. Korea: U.S., Japan for "swift" action
A failed project: U.K.
A first in Bahrain
Chinese translation of Kalam's book released
Lashkar-e-Taiba founder released

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu