January-June 2006
- What they said DURING the "year of reflection":
"The constitutional process has slowed down over the last half year - it is now covered in a blanket of snow waiting for spring. So what we need is climate change. We have had massive blows to the European ego in 2005. I hope that now - having agreed on the [budget] - we will be moving into a more positive climate." Ursula Plassnik, Austrian Foreign Minister in January 2006
“We have promised ourselves that we will restart the negotiations on the Constitution. We will not be able to resolve the matter entirely, that is clear. But we have made it our aim to present a progress report at the summit in June”. Wolfgang Schssel, Austrian Chancellor and President of the European Council (at that time) on German ZDF (Jan 2006).
"(We should) consider very well, how to lead the project of the Constitutional Treaty to a success. I want this Constitutional Treaty, the German Government wants it and also, as I think, the majority of this parliament." Angela Merkel, German Chancellor in her speech to the Bundestag on 11 May 2006
- ONE year AFTER the defeat of the EU Constitution: What were the conclusions of the EU summit on 15 June 2006 in Brussels?
"The reflection period has overall been useful in enabling the union to assess the concerns and worries expressed in the course of the ratification process..."
"We pass from a period of reflexion to a Europe of work, projects and concrete results" which will be carried out parallel with the search for a solution on the Constitution. He declared that there is a good chance to “preserve a good number of elements of the Constitution."
"The European Council calls for the adoption, on 25 March 2007 in Berlin, of a political declaration by EU leaders, setting out Europe's values and ambitions and confirming their shared commitment to deliver them, commemorating 50 years of the Treaties of Rome..." Wolfgang Schssel*, President of the European Council (at that time)
"I had the impression that there was an attempt to bury" the Constitution, but "one maintains the pressure on those which suspended the process of ratification"
Guy Verhofstadt*, Belgian PM
(We have) "to say clearly that we need Europe" and that "for that we need the Constitution". Angela Merkel*, German Chancellor
"I'm quite confident there will be a new try in France and in the Netherlands,"
Gran Persson*, Swedish PM
*according to "SOMMET EUROPEEN Déclarations 15/06/06"
