Brussels, 25/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a lengthy interview to Le Soir on 25 May, the president of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker repeated that a French no-vote on the European Constitution would be a “disaster for everybody…whether you're a company boss in Texas, a Bolivian trade unionist or a business leader in Shanghai…external observers will no longer know where Europe wants to go”. The Luxembourg prime minister added that, “I think that France is made for leading, its place is in the pilot's cabin and not in the dustcart!” After the French referendum on 29 May, Mr Juncker indicated that, “the president of the Commission and I, as president of the European Council, will make a common declaration. As it is essential to put some order into the process, which will be ongoing the following day. It is worth repeating that the ratification process will continue. If the vote is yes, we will therefore say 'we continue'! I would, however, find it extraordinary to tell other people to stay at home because France has decided for the others!” On the subject of a possible “plan B”, Juncker reaffirmed that “the idea put across by France that there could be an immediate re-negotiation, is strictly unimaginable”. In the event of a no-vote Juncker says that there will come a day when a new treaty is needed, “but it will not consist of any more goals and we'll be fifteen years behind”. Asked about the long term role of the president of the European Council introduced by the Constitution, Juncker expresses some “serious reservations” if the competencies of such a president are not “made more clear”. In reply to whether he was still a candidate for the post, Juncker said that, “apart from manager of the German football team and a recent nomination for the Vatican, I am a candidate for everything, if you read all the newspapers!” On a more serious note he pointed out that this post first of all required a European constitution. Juncker said that the idea of merging the presidency of the Commission and European Council was a “virtuous solution: the two-headed approach is dangerous”.
In Le Figaro on 25 May, the president of the European Parliament Josep Borrell also said that a French no-vote would not lead to a tsunami bringing good with it where by other European countries would head towards Paris to demand concessions to the “impenetrable” contents because, “although I am a Francophile, I have not understood the approach of Le Pen, de Villiers, Laguiller and others! Either we say the treaty goes too far… and the no-vote is illogical or we consider that with a yes-vote we will get more and we're completely wrong…because the British are not suddenly going to become federalists? The Czechs the keenest supporters of a social Europe? The Polish the most prepared to make new concessions when the Treaty of Nice was better for them? Borrell also said that on his travels, “I have noticed that Europeans are worried. They do not understand that France, this great founding country, which has brought Europe so much and whose weight will be strengthened in the Constitution, notably through its voice at the Council, which will go from 9% to 13% due to demographic considerations, would dare to be responsible for holding up this great collective adventure, which certainly includes some imperfections but whose continuation will enable Europe and therefore France, to exist in the world?”.