CNN Breaking: EU Leaders Agree On First Ever Constitution

[Democat]

BREAKING NEWS European Union leaders meeting in Brussels agree to the bloc's first-ever constitution. Details soon.

http://www.cnn.com/

Anyone know yet whether they allowed the specific "Christian" references in or kept them out?

[MallRat]

1. Did I just feel the ground move?

I believe that's the sound of a new economic superpower being born.

President Bush, are you paying attention?

-MR

[David Dunham]

2. Europe finally unites, but the US may be dumb enough to vote for Bush

[Liberalboy]

3. Yep

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3820607.stm

Looks like the Lone Superpower just got itself a pissed off neighbor

[lazarus]

4. hilarious tidbit

I love this sort of ironic understatement:

"Correspondents note that spats between the UK and France are nothing new. "

[Rochambeau]

5. Something more about Blair's opposition to Mr.Verhofstadt....

as head of EU Commision : Belgium under Guy Verhofstadt's leadership strongly opposed the "Oily War". ;)

[freeminder]

7. yay to us

:-)

Guy for Chairman of the European comission! (UK is opposed)

[Rochambeau]

10. LOL, Uneducated europeans !!

I wrote "commission" with one "s" only and Freeminder with one "m" only !!! Muarffff Shame on us ! :D


PS to Freeminder: (sorry I can't speak Vlaam). Enfin la fin du procès Dutroux ! Il faut en finir avec cette histoire. Tu sais que toute l'affaire a été très suivie ici en France. La Belgique et la France, grace à la Wallonie sans doute, sont si proches! Et elles le sont plus encore grace à des gens comme Guy Verhofstadt. Bravo Guy et de tout coeur avec vous pour la présidence de la Commission.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. The leaders have agreed the text

but now all the parliaments have to agree to it, and various countries hold referenda on it. It's not a done deal by a long stretch.

[Kellanved]

11. exactly

It will take the full two years, probably longer, to get the constitution in the countries without referenda (with several houses in most of them, balance of power and everything).
The countries with referenda will probably not adapt the constitution; especially as the leader are split again among "Old" and "New" Europe lines (i.e. warmonger and others).

[Democat]

8. I found this answer to my own question

Efforts to include in the document references to Europe’s Christian roots have failed, replaced by a general nod toward the “cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe”.

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=108042004&p=yx8x4z7yx

[xchrom]

9. woo-hoo! a good reason to celebrate

but boy oh boy -- this is going to cause some consternation here.

[KDLarsen]

12. Great!

There's been much opposition to this constitution, but I personally can't wait to see what it contains. It's supposed to replace the various treaties who are becoming very confusing to keep a track of.