EUROPEAN leaders rallied round last night to insist that the European constitution must still be ratified despite it being overwhelmingly rejected by French voters.

The emphatic French “non” — the first time an EU founding member has rejected a treaty — has plunged Europe into its biggest political crisis for 50 years. However, heads of government quickly telephoned each other to commit themselves to pushing ahead with European integration.

The constitution must be ratified by all 25 members of the EU to come into effect, but Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg Prime Minister, who holds the EU’s rotating presidency, insisted: “I am not a doctor, but the treaty is not dead. It is a European debate. The ratification procedure should continue.”

M Juncker issued a joint statement with José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, and Josep Borrell, the European Parliament President, declaring: “Europe has already known difficult moments and it has every time emerged from them strengthened, better than before, ready to face its challenges and its responsibilities.”

M Juncker, who said that countries who voted no would have to rehold referendums to get the “right” answer, played down prospects of renegotiating the treaty, saying it was important for governments to explain it better to the people.

Mr Barroso claimed it was difficult to learn any lessons from the French “non” because people voted against the treaty for different reasons. “It is very difficult to find a message in it when the messages are contradictory,” he said. “Some people voted because they want more Europe, and some because they want less.”

Gerhard Schröder, the German Chancellor, also spoke to President Chirac, and declared: “The outcome of the referendum is a setback for the process of ratifying the constitution, but not its end. It is also not the end of the Franco-German partnership in and for Europe.”

The determination to push ahead with the constitution puts the Commission, President Chirac and Chancellor Schröder on a direct collision course with countries such as Britain that see little point in trying to ratify a treaty that other countries have already rejected.

Nine out of 25 EU members have ratified the treaty, and last night four others planning to hold referendums pledged to go ahead with them. As well as the Netherlands and Luxembourg, both holding referendums in the near future, Ireland and Denmark also said they would not cancel them.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister, said: “I regret the French ‘No’. But all 25 countries must be given the opportunity to give their opinion. This means we must let the Danish people give their opinion in a referendum on September 27.” Artis Pabriks, the Foreign Minister of Latvia, which has already ratified the treaty, said: “I am convinced that we should stick to the idea of the constitution.”

Most EU analysts predict that the French rejection, which is likely to be followed by a Dutch one on Wednesday, will not only kill off the constitution, but also slow the process of EU integration and enlargement.

Turkey’s membership negotiations — widely opposed in France and the Netherlands — is also expected to be undermined. However, Abdullah Gül, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, said its membership application would continue.

In contrast to the general gloom in Brussels, there was some jubilation among Eurosceptics in the European Parliament. Carl Schlyter, a Swedish Green MEP said: “Finally, we have a people’s Europe. Governments should stop negotiating and should let the people come together and have a more representative discussion.”

GLEE AT REJECTION

‘Europe has to be rebuilt. The constitution is no more. The people have said “no” massively. There is no more constitution. We are confronted with a major political crisis. Only the President can resolve it — in two ways, I leave him the choice. Either he resigns, given that he heavily involved himself in the campaign, or he dissolves the National Assembly’

— Phillipe de Villiers, leading French Eurosceptic

‘We’re delighted the French have said “no” — the constitution is bad for France, bad for Britain and bad for Europe. Now it’s up to Europe’s politicians to listen and learn. When Ireland and Denmark voted “no” they were forced to vote again until they got it right — that mustn’t happen again. This time, Europe’s leaders must take “no” for an answer ’

— Matthew McGregor, of the “No” campaign against British ratification

‘It sounds like the people of France have done a favour to all the rest of Europe.’

— Liam Fox, Shadow Foreign Secretary

‘The bureaucrats in Brussels have miscalculated. This is an opportunity. I do not see it so tragically. I am convinced it will be possible to do something else’

— Jörg Haider, Austrian far-Right leader

YET TO DECIDE

Ten countries have ratified the constitution. Those still to decide are:

Belgium
Awaiting approval by regional assemblies

Netherlands
Referendum, June 2005

Latvia
Parliament, June 2005

Cyprus
Parliament, June 2005

Luxembourg
Referendum, July 2005

Malta
Parliament, July 2005

Finland
Parliament, Autumn 2005

Denmark
Referendum, Sept 2005

Portugal
Referendum, Dec 2005

Sweden
Parliament, Dec 2005

Britain
Referendum, early 2006

Czech Republic
Referendum, mid 2006

Estonia
Parliament, no date set

Ireland
Referendum, no date set

Poland
Referendum, no date set

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