Hi! Thanks for another question.
You can read about the general controversies or contentions about the
EU constitution in our first link. Mainly here are the different
points:
- Length and complexity
- Qualified majority voting
- Union law and national law
- Trappings of statehood
- Lack of democracy
- Secularism
- Militarism
- Economic policy
- Human rights
- Exclusions
SOURCE: ?Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Constitution#Points_of_contention
So far only two countries have rejected the EU Constitution. These are
France and Denmark.
-------------------------------
FRANCE
Reasons for Rejection:
- ?On the left, many expressed the view that the Constitution would
enforce a neoliberal economic model.?
- ?critics sought to link the Constitution to the proposed directive
on services in the internal market, which is widely opposed in
France.? (See reference to this directive:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_on_services_in_the_internal_market
- ??on the grounds that France should not be part of any institution
whose decisions can take precedence over what is decided in France at
a national level.?
- Possible inclusion of Turkey to the EU.
SOURCE: ?French referendum on the European Constitution?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_referendum_on_the_European_Constitution
- ?One reason is that the government and president are unpopular -
unemployment is running at 10% and the economy is in the doldrums.?
- ?On the left, many voters believe that the constitution would create
an ultra-free market economy within the EU, that would undermine
traditional French levels of social protection, and allow countries
with cheaper labour costs to take French jobs.?
- ?Some voters were also troubled by the decline of France's influence
in the EU, as a result of enlargement??
SOURCE: ?Q&A: French EU referendum?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4483817.stm
***********
General Reasons for Support:
- ?Supporters of the Constitution from the left sought to emphasise
that the treaty incorporates a Charter of Fundamental Rights and thus
helped to secure the future of the European social model.?
SOURCE: ?French referendum on the European Constitution?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_referendum_on_the_European_Constitution
- ?French President Jacques Chirac warned voters before the poll that
France's influence in the EU would be severely weakened if they
rejected the constitution.?
SOURCE: ?Q&A: French EU referendum?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4483817.stm
------------------------
DENMARK
Reasons for Rejection:
- ?30 per cent of the Constitution's opponents used the referendum as
an opportunity to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the
government.?
- Fears of Turkey and other Eastern European countries entering the EU
also contributed to the NO vote.
- ?30 per cent of the Constitution's opponents used the referendum as
an opportunity to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the
government.?
- ??fears of an increase in immigration, or an outsourcing of jobs to
new member states.?
- ?Furthermore, the Netherlands had not held a referendum on the euro,
and amidst concern that its adoption had led to an increase in the
cost of living.?
- ?48 per cent thought the new Constitution was worse than the existing treaties? ?
- ?44 per cent cited the declining influence of the Netherlands in the EU?
- Most were turned off by the aggressive style of campaigning for the
EU constitution.
SOURCE: ?Dutch referendum on the European Constitution?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_referendum_on_the_European_Constitution
- ?Dutch voters complained that the EU?s big countries were already
too strong and that certain provisions of the constitution would
increase their power even more.?
SOURCE: ?The European Union?s Constitution?
http://www.usembassy.it/pdf/other/RS21618.pdf
***********
General Reasons for Support:
- Possibilities of war (Minister of Justice, Piet Hein Donner)
- ?The Minister for Economic Affairs, Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, said
that ?the lights would go off? in the case of a rejection and that The
Netherlands would become ?the Switzerland of Europe.??
SOURCE: ?Dutch referendum on the European Constitution?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_referendum_on_the_European_Constitution
-----------------------------------
GENERAL REASONS WHY EU MEMBERS SUPPORTED THE CONSTITUTION:
- Increased Parliamentary Powers
- Simplified Voting Procedures
- Exit Clause for Member Countries
- A New Solidarity Clause
- Build Common Defense Policy.
SOURCE: ?The European Union?s Constitution?
http://www.usembassy.it/pdf/other/RS21618.pdf
Search terms used:
EU constitution French France Dutch Denmark government campaign
rejection reasons issues
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
Regards,
Easterangel-ga
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