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Forward to a New Europe

The French (and any moment now, Dutch) rejection of the European Union Constitution provides Britain, and especially Tony Blair, with a historic opportunity. While the proposed constitution was in many ways a good thing - codifying existing EU practice, providing a basis for enlargement - the rejection appears to have been based on two main problems. Firstly, that it is too centralist. Secondly, that it provides protection for the free market at the expense of nations' own economies.

The opportunity for Blair, as the de facto president of the EU for the coming months, is to draft a constitution that is generally acceptable. And since he is, at least theoretically, a socialist and the rejection has resulted from a failure to convince the European left, the opportunity is to draft a constitution that places socialist, liberal, left of centre policies at the heart of Europe. Such a constitution practically writes itself : A decentralised Europe, with policy decisions taken at the lowest practical level, and higher levels existing to provide co-ordination and dispute resolution. The rights of individuals protected. Democratic accountability guaranteed. Heck, if he needs help with the wording, I'd be happy to help.

Unfortunately, what Blair will actually try to push through is the enshrinement of the global free market and bureaucratic centralisation - the very policies that France and Holland have already rejected. What a wasted opportunity.

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