Barroso: Een Frans 'non' kan buitenlandse investeringen remmen (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The President of the European Commission has called for a French yes to the European Constitution, pointing out that there will not be a "plan B" if France rejects the treaty next week.

The consequences of a French No would be bad both for Europe and for France, Jose Manuel Barroso i said in an interview with French radio Europe 1 on Wednesday (18 May).

"It would be perceived as a weakness of France, and of Europe. Outside of the EU, in the US, in China, people would say: Europe is not even capable of agreeing on a Constitutional treaty".

"It would be very bad", Mr. Barroso said.

"The French have a great responsibility with this vote", he added.

A No would not only be badly perceived both within and outside of Europe, but it would also influence the European economy negatively.

"Investors want to have certainties, security. A No would be a big question mark. And uncertainty is bad for the economy. It is bad for consumption, and it is bad for investments", said the commission president.

Mr Barroso also accused those who claim that the constitution is "a political programme" of "intellectual dishonesty".

"The Constitution is neither social, nor liberal. It is not a governmental programme. It is a document which allows the different majorities to have certain policies", he said.

No plan B

Mr Barroso's call for a yes comes at a time when French polls have put the No side back in the lead.

A poll published in Wednesday's (18 May) Le Monde puts potential no voters at 53%, with the yes camp at 47%.

An Ipsos survey on Tuesday showed that 61 per cent of French voters believed the country could renegotiate a better treaty after a possible rejection on 29 May.

But Mr Barroso asserted there was no plan B in case the French rejected the treaty.

"We desire that 'yes', the ratification in all the 25 countries. Frankly, there is no plan B".

The Commission's president also rejected the possibility of re-negotiating the document in the case of a no vote.

"We are 25. With all the respect to each country, there are all the other countries - the ones that have already ratified it, the ones that will probably ratify it. It would not be realistic to re-open negotiations now".

Campaigning

The European Commission has been criticised for being too passive during the French referendum campaign, and therefore, for being indirectly responsible for the rise of the 'non' - something rejected by Mr Barroso.

"In the European Commission we are used to being scapegoats. The debates on the European Constitution are very national", he argued.

The President also rejected personal criticism for having preferred to keep silent and not to speak publicly during the French debate.

"When I am invited, I accept to go", he said, pointing to interventions in Spain, before the Spanish referendum in March, as an example.

Mr Barroso has also been invited to participate in a TV programme in the Netherlands, as the Dutch referendum on the EU Constitution will take place on 1 June, only three days after the French one.

"It is not excluded that the president accepts the invitation", his spokesperson said.