On June 1st the Dutch are asked by means of a referendum if they want to accept the European Constitution or not. The French are actually voting for this today, and it seems it will be a close call: a small majority will vote “no” (or so they predict). Well, I am going to vote “no”. The European constitution is a bad idea.
As it seems, about 51% of the Dutch that are going to vote, are against a European constitution. About 29% is for a European constitution, and about 16% doesn’t know what to vote. Among Webloggers (aka Bloggers), about 70% is against it.
I could devote a whole website to all the arguments pro and con for the constitution, but I will just stick to some points that I find important.
At this moment small countries, like mine (The Netherlands) can veto any law that the EU wants to get passed. If the constitution as proposed gets accepted, this will end, and a majority of votes will rule. This only applies to matters that go “outside the boundaries of a country”. So local laws will apply, unless they extend to other countries in the vincinity.
That sounds a bit difficult, but let me explain. We in Holland have our own laws about using soft-drugs (it is allowed here to use them). Off course countries like Germany do not like this: it promotes so-called “drugs tourism” especially in the areas in the border between Holland and Germany.
Now, the question would be: can European laws overrule this Dutch law? I would say yes, because the effect of this law can be felt in other countries as well. So if the EU partners would like to outlaw the use of soft-drugs in Holland, they can. Because a majority of votes would just rule!
This is just one example. But in general I get the feeling we would loose our own identity and all options to just stick to our own laws.
In general I would say:
- We loose our sovereignty
- The constitution as proposed is too hard to understand/interperate
- Chances of abuse of power by bigger countries get bigger
- We get less democracy (there will be a European Prime Minister, but he is not elected)
- We loose the veto-right for small countries
- We get more burocracy
- It will cost us more money (The Netherlands pay the most EU taxes of all countries!)
- They want one European Army
So all in all, I will vote NO next wednesday!
And I would urge everyone else to follow my example! We do not need a European Constitution to work together: we have been doing that already without one!
More info: EU nee!