A year since the no votes: can Europe learn to listen?
26 May 2006
Embargo: 00:00 29 May
A year since the “no” votes – new poll finds two thirds of French and Dutch voters want to take powers back from the EU.
Voters in France and Netherlands demand new referendum before any parts of the EU Constitution are implemented.
- On the anniversary of last year’s referendums in France and the Netherlands, a new poll for the independent think tank Open Europe finds that French and Dutch voters would be even more likely to vote no to the EU Constitution if it were put to them in a new referendum.
- Compared to last year, the poll suggests a new referendum would see the lead of the no camp increase by 2% in France and 7% in the Netherlands. Excluding the ‘don’t knows’ and the blank/spoiled/abstentions, French voters would reject the text by 55.5% to 44.5% (compared to 54.5% – 45.5% in the referendum last year). Dutch voters would now vote the Constitution down by 65% to 35% (compared to 61.5% – 38.5% in the referendum last year)
- More importantly, a very large majority of voters in both countries now want to take back power from the EU. 63 % of French voters, and 68% of Dutch voters want to take back powers from the EU or leave it altogether. Only 18% of French and 15% of Dutch voters want the EU to have more power.
- This finding contradicts assertions by some European leaders who have argued that last year’s no votes were not really votes against deeper integration.
- The poll also finds voters are hostile to the idea that some parts of the Constitution could be “cherry picked” and implemented without the need for another referendum. By a huge margin, voters in both countries think that politicians should not be allowed to implement any parts of the rejected Constitution without first holding a referendum. 74 % of French voters and 75% of Dutch voters think that no parts of the Constitution should be implemented unless they are agreed in fresh referendums.
Open Europe Director Neil O’Brien said:
“A consensus is forming in the EU around the idea of revisiting the Constitution from next spring. EU leaders are also pressing ahead with many of the proposals in the Constitution without a referendum.
“The poll suggests that if EU leaders continue their current attempts to side-step the no votes and implement parts of the Constitution by the back door they will further antagonise voters who are increasingly critical of the EU.”
“Ever since the no votes EU leaders have attempted to play down the extent to which the no votes reflected opposition to deeper integration. But the reality is that French and Dutch voters are overwhelmingly against giving the EU even more powers. EU leaders need to start listening soon or the EU will continue to lose public support across Europe.”
Open Europe also today releases a new briefing note: One year on from the no votes - can Europe learn to listen?
Poll Details
1) How would you vote if there were another referendum on the EU Constitution?
(Excluding don’t knows)
New poll
France: 44.5% Yes 55.5% No
Netherlands: 35% Yes 65% No
2005 Referendum
France: 45.5% Yes 54.5% No
Netherlands: 38.5% Yes 61.5% No
2) Should politicians be allowed to implement parts of the European Constitution without consulting the people of the France / the Netherlands in a new referendum?
France: 22% YES, 74% NO, 4% DON’T KNOW,
Netherlands: YES 25%, NO 75%
3) Which of the following comes closest to your own view?
a) We should transfer more power to the European level, and more decisions should be made by the EU as a whole rather than individual members
France : 18%, Netherlands : 15%
b) The balance of power between the member states and the EU is about right
France : 16%, Netherlands : 17%
c) We should stay in the EU, but more power should be brought back to the national and local level, and the EU should not become more powerful
France : 53%, Netherlands : 54%
d) We should leave the EU altogether
France : 10%, Netherlands : 14%
e) Don’t Know
France 3%
Notes for Editors
(1) The polls were carried out by BVA France and Peil/Maurice de Hond in the Netherlands between 16–21 May 2006. Sample size was 1,500 people of voting age in the Netherlands and 851 registered voters in France.
(2) For more information please contact Neil O’Brien on +44 (0)207 197 2333 or +44 (0)7973 142775