Dutch to have a referendum on Enlargement

gandalf

Well it looks like the Dutch may hold a referendum on Enlargement. The enlargement question was part of the reason for the collapse of the Dutch Government.

Details here.

http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?sid=9&aid=8116

Should be interesting to see the reaction from the EU mandarins if the Dutch do decide to go ahead with this vote. It will also be interesting to see if they try and bully the Dutch Electorate.

Gandalf.

Typedef

Can you believe it if the Dutch stop enlargement, or the French and Germans fighting over CAP reforms stop enlargement?

Ireland will be left with having ratified Nice for 'enlargement', without any enlargement taking place and only bad things for Ireland like a loss of relative power, ceding power to Brussels in Commerical areas, lack of control over Ireland's contribution to structural funds actually coming from ratification of Nice. Wouldn't the Irish look like even bigger twats then?

There have been claims and counter claims that Ireland ratified Nice for enlargement as opposed to (what was contained in the Treaty) so it really would be ironic if everything contained in Nice got implemented to the detrament of this country, whilst enlargment was filibustered by 'others' in Europe.

This is me gloating

bonkey

Originally posted by Typedef
There have been claims and counter claims that Ireland ratified Nice for enlargement as opposed to (what was contained in the Treaty) so it really would be ironic if everything contained in Nice got implemented to the detrament of this country, whilst enlargment was filibustered by 'others' in Europe.

This is me gloating

Well, seeing as Ireland was touted as the last remaining nation to ratify enlargement, we seem to be dealing with a situation where the Dutch are trying to say "we know we ratified it, but we've changed our minds and want to think about it again".

At which point, the Irish could legitimately say "well, we'd like to rethink our position as well then."

Bit early for the gloating.

jc

Typedef

True jc. What I will point out is that the Nice Treaty was ostensibly passed by Ireland on the 'moral question' of enlargement.

If the Dutch via plebiscite or the French and Germans via fighting over CAP reform place obstacles to enlargement and even in the case of the Dutch stop enlargement, Ireland will be faced with having ratified Nice with it's disadvantageous aspects on the permis that it would facilitate enlargement, without actual enlargement taking place and thus the very reason for ratification being negated.

This would leave only the Treaty Text ratification taking place, which would be ironic as only the percieved bad aspects of Nice ratification would be taking place (ie the contents of the Treaty) and the percieved good aspects of Nice not taking place (ie enlargement).

DiscoStu

Originally posted by bonkey

At which point, the Irish could legitimately say "well, we'd like to rethink our position as well then."

Newsflash: Bertie Ahern seen strapping wings to pigs.
It is belived that with the possibility of the Dutch rejecting Nice the only thing standing in the way of a rethink by the government on their policy on the treaty was pigs flying.

if only :rolleyes:

Mr White

Democracy is catching on!(and I don't mean that racially)