(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in France want to have a say on whether the country should adopt the new common treaty of the European Union (EU), according to a poll by CSA published in L’Humanité. 59 per cent of respondents want a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, while 33 per cent think parliament should decide on its ratification.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in France want to have a say on whether the country should adopt the new common treaty of the European Union (EU), according to a poll by CSA published in L’Humanité. 59 per cent of respondents want a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, while 33 per cent think parliament should decide on its ratification.
Several of the EU’s 27 member nations have already ratified the Lisbon Treaty. The document’s provisions call for the creation of new posts, such as a foreign policy chief, and a High Representative who will answer to EU governments and serve as vice-president of the European Commission.
Under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, EU leaders would also choose a president of the European Council for a two and a half year renewable term. This will effectively eliminate the current six-month rotating presidency among member nations. The Lisbon Treaty also provides for the creation of a mutual defence clause, in case one of the member states is attacked.
If all countries ratify the treaty—whether through a referendum or a parliamentary vote—the body of law will become effective in January 2009. Ireland, due to its internal regulations, is the only country that must hold a nationwide vote on the Lisbon Treaty, while other governments can decide whether they want to do the same.
On Jan. 16, the National Assembly—the lower house of the French legislature—voted in favour of constitutional revisions that will allow French lawmakers to ratify the Lisbon Treaty without a referendum. The measure was adopted in a 304-77 vote, with 100 abstentions, mostly from the opposition Socialist Party (PS).
The French Communist Party (PCF) denounced the decision to ratify the Lisbon Treaty via the legislature as a "coup d’etat".
The original project for a European Constitution was practically abandoned in 2005, after voters in France and the Netherlands rejected the proposed document in two plebiscites.
Polling Data
As you may know, the 27 European Union (EU) members have adopted the Lisbon Treaty, which must be ratified by France. How would you prefer to ratify the Lisbon Treaty?
|
Through a nationwide referendum |
59% |
|
Through Parliament |
33% |
|
No answer |
8% |
Source: CSA / L’Humanité
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 960 French adults, conducted on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24, 2008. No margin of error was provided.
