Europe's leaders in frantic Yes push on EU poll
(FT)
Updated: 2005-05-29 14:50

Europe's leaders on Friday night pitched into France's tumultuous debate on the European Union's constitutional treaty, urging the country's 43m voters to say Yes in Sunday's referendum.

One poll released on Friday by CSA showed that the Yes vote was staging a late comeback, recovering three points to 48 per cent.

But another poll from Ifop suggested the No vote had increased its lead by two points to 56 per cent.

A rejection of the constitutional treaty in one of the EU's six founding countries would badly damage the authority of Jacques Chirac, France's president, and slow the pace of Europe's 54-year integration process. It could also raise market concerns about the eurozone's governance.

After his country became the ninth EU country to ratify the treaty, Gerhard Schroder, Germany's chancellor, travelled to the French city of Toulouse on Friday night to take part in frantic last-minute campaigning.

José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spain's prime minister, joined French socialist leaders at a Yes rally in the northern French town of Lille. "Europe cannot advance without France," he said.

All 25 EU member countries must ratify the treaty, which establishes a new set of rules for the enlarged union, before it can come into force.

In a letter to Mr Schroder congratulating him on his parliament's vote, Mr Chirac hailed Germany's profound commitment to the European project. "Our two countries have always been hand in hand to make Europe advance and they will continue to do so," Mr Chirac wrote.

In an emotional speech to the German parliament, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, the former French president and "father" of the constitution, said he hoped with all his heart that French voters would vote Yes in Sunday's referendum.

"The double ratification in Germany and France would mark a historic passage for the future of the constitution and for Europe."

EU leaders are expected to issue a statement on Sunday night saying that the ratification must continue in other member states, whatever the outcome of the French vote. Dutch voters will hold their own referendum on June 1.

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