Netherlands says Nee to constitution

Ann Cahill, Europe Correspondent

Exit polls projected the ‘No’ camp had won 63% of votes based on an exit poll to 37% for the ‘Yes’ camp. The turnout was 62%, exceeding all expectations.

The extent of the crisis facing the EU was underlined by its current president, Jean Claude Juncker, when he made an impassioned plea to Europe’s leaders to continue with the ratification process.

Several countries, including Ireland, are considering calling off their referenda rather than face more devastating ‘No’ votes.

However, Mr Juncker said Europe’s leaders must show solidarity, especially in light of concerns about the union’s future.

“We want to continue to exist and continue with this ambitious project,” he said. “The Asian and North American press are commenting on this.

“There is a lot of doubt and uncertainty outside Europe.

“This is a dangerous situation to be in and runs the risk of reducing our overall global political influence,” he said.

He was joined in his plea by the presidents of the parliament and the commission.

Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called on EU leaders to show confidence in Europe. “We should ask all member states to abstain from any unilateral initiative until after the European Council summit later this month,” he said.

The toll among the 11 countries to have taken a decision on the constitution is nine for and two against.

The Netherlands became the second to reject the treaty after its fellow founding member, France, voted No by almost 55% Sunday.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende rejected calls to resign following what was a very high turn-out of about 62% for the vote.

As in France, many of the reasons the Dutch gave for voting against the constitution had nothing to do with the treaty itself.

The director of one of the main polling institutes in the Netherlands, Maurice de Hond, said more than 40% of the public believed Europe was moving too fast with the euro and enlargement with both eastern European countries and Turkey.

“The ‘No’ vote against the treaty is telling politicians to ‘Stop and listen to us’,” said Mr de Hond.

The Taoiseach will meet Mr Juncker in Luxembourg today where they will discuss the crisis ahead of the summit on June 16 and 17.

A source close to the British Government said Prime Minister Tony Blair does not want to go ahead with the referendum which he was almost certain to lose, in light of the Dutch rejection.

The Irish Government would only say preparations for the referendum were continuing, but privately they are believed to be considering whether to continue or not.

Even in Luxembourg, the most loyal EU member, attitudes were changing, with the ‘Yes’ vote margin plummeting from 52% a few months ago to just 18% yesterday.