Reports of the European Union's death are greatly exaggerated despite recent setbacks at the polls, say campus experts.

The long-held dream of unifying Europe with its first constitution recently stalled as French and Dutch voters roundly turned against national referendums on the EU's new 448-article constitution. On May 29, 55 percent of French voters voted "no," and then on June 1, 62 percent of the Dutch rejected the draft charter.

Jeannette Money, an associate professor of political science who studies European and international politics, said the French vote was a "significant personal defeat" for President Jacques Chirac, who campaigned strongly for ratification.

"In his second term as president, some analysts view the no vote as a rejection of the Chirac government's policies," she said. Still, "no single reason explains the French and Dutch rejection of the constitution."

She said the French vote reflected other concerns about issues like globalization, rising prices blamed on the introduction of the "euro" currency, and increasing European Union regulations. "Even immigration fears played a role, though admission of immigrants is still governed at the national, rather than the EU, level," she observed.

Like Money, Ted Margadant, professor of history and an expert on modern Europe, said economic issues played a key role. "The French have weathered a 10 percent unemployment rate that has not gotten any better, if not worse, in recent years. And many people link the jobless difficulty with the rising tide of globalism."

Even so, Money said, it is an increasingly popular view in France that national governments can no longer respond to local economic conditions because significant portions of economic policy are made at the level of the European Union. She added that the French want to retain a system of market socialism that protects individuals from the vagaries of the market. They fear that the EU will become dominated by "ultra liberalism," and their system of social protection will be eroded.

In the end, Money said, "not much is going to change," because of the referendums.

Established to unite Europe

The European Union, based in Brussels, Belgium, was created by a treaty signed in 1992 that took effect the following year. It was an outgrowth of the 1958 European Economic Community, which was itself an outgrowth of a 1952 accord. The six founding members of the EU are France, Germany, Italy Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Since then, 19 more countries have joined.

The EU was set up to establish "ever closer union among the peoples of Europe," initially based on the free movement of goods, persons, services, and capital, noted Money. It has since been extended to include, among other things, a common currency, a common foreign and security policy and a European security policy. In the absence of constitutional ratification, the existing EU will still be governed by the series of treaties signed by the member states.

"The constitution is more symbolic than substantive," Money added, because it serves mostly to codify and clarify the current powers of the European Union.

Among other things, "the constitution would have given the EU more international visibility and continuity with a five-year presidency and a foreign minister," Money said. "Currently, the presidency is rotated every six months among the member states."

The constitution requires unanimous approval from all 25 EU member states. Though 10 member-states have already ratified the constitution, it will not take effect unless France and the Netherlands eventually approve it.

Efforts to redraft the charter might be one solution, Money said, though it is difficult to find common ground. Also, the constitution may be put on the backburner for a while.

Money observed that the votes could muddy Turkey's hopes of EU membership — talks are set to begin in October — because welcoming 70 million Turks looks even more difficult following the French vote.

Skepticism expressed

Margadant noted the irony that the French have been among the European Union's strongest supporters. Still, voters were in a rebellious mood. "Many of the younger political activists and leaders were skeptical about the constitution," he said, "and the far left and the far right forged an unusual alliance of sorts in opposing it."

Whereas the political right claimed that the European Union would weaken immigration polices, he said, the left had grave doubts about the impact of the EU's globalization on local communities.

Sometimes the blame is misplaced, Margadant said. Much of France's economic trouble may be associated with the "excessive cost of social welfare programs," overly generous pension plans for civil servants, a sprawling state bureaucracy and obstacles to private sector development.

A few years ago, he noted, France implemented a 35-hour work week and has now attempted to make adjustments to it because of the impact it is having on worker productivity. Otherwise, many people — especially the younger activists, Margadant said — do not make the connection between this economic approach and the unemployment rate.

"Many French government workers have lengthy vacations and are able to retire at age 55," he said. "With so many people and families invested in or associated with government service, they are loathe to reform these programs and instead will scapegoat outside interests, whether America or the European Union."

In France, for example, it is "virtually impossible" for the government to fire government workers or punish those involved in "wildcat" or illegal strikes, Margadant said.

"The French middle class is the target of the government programs," he said, "and this makes it hard to change the status quo and easy to place the blame elsewhere."