European reaction to the French 'no' vote

Reaction to the French rejection of the European consititution:


LUXEMBOURG PRIME MINISTER JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER
"The ratification procedure must be pursued in other countries."

GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER
"The referendum result is a blow for the constitutional process, but not the end of it. It is also not the end of the German-French partnership in and for Europe."

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW
"This raises profound questions for all of us about the future direction of Europe. What we want now is a period of reflection."

EUROPEAN COMMISSION VICE PRESIDENT GUENTER VERHEUGEN (On prospects of the Netherlands backing the treaty in a referendum on Wednesday)
"To be honest, I am not especially hopeful. France has not sent an encouraging signal to the Netherlands."

DUTCH PRIME MINISTER JAN PETER BALKENENDE
"There is all the more reason to say 'Yes' (in the Dutch referendum) so that some progress can be recorded with the constitutional treaty. The Netherlands has a lot to gain from this constitutional treaty. It is in the interest of Europe and of our own country."

JIRI PAROUBEK, CZECH PRIME MINISTER
"I've already said before that I thought it was a mistake to expect all 25 states of the EU to ratify the constitution in a first round. For me, the French result is not a surprise, but it is regrettable how it happened."

DANISH PRIME MINISTER ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN
"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 Sept. 27."

TURKISH DIPLOMAT
"This result is not a concern for us. It should be perceived as a problem for the EU and France, not for Turkey. The referendum in France was on the draft EU constitution, not Turkey's candidacy to join the EU. It has nothing to do with Turkey. This is a problem for France."

JOERG HAIDER, AUSTRIAN FAR-RIGHT LEADER
"The bureaucrats in Brussels have miscalculated ... They have to find a consensus with the citizenry of Europe. This is an opportunity. I do not see it so tragically. There will be negotiations back and forth for a few months. I am convinced it will be possible to do something else, with a few adaptations."

RICHARD WHITMAN, ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, LONDON
"I think that the vote in France is the nail in coffin but I think a 'no' in The Netherlands would be a stake through the heart."

HANS-GERT POETTERING, CHAIRMAN OF THE RIGHT-WING EPP-ED GROUP IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
"The European Union has managed already many crises and was almost always able to reach agreement in the end. We must hope now that a pragmatic management of the crisis will also lead to a solution in this case."

JAN-MARIA ROKITA, POLISH OPPOSITION LEADER
"I would warn against over-dramatising the situation. Europe is not going to fall into a black hole. This is not the most happy of days, but also not one of tragedy. We will have to work on a new version of the constitution, possibly a shorter one, more understandable for society."

LIAM FOX, FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN FOR BRITAIN'S MAIN OPPOSITION CONSERVATIVES
"It sounds like the people of France have done a favour to all the rest of the people of Europe. They've decided that they want reform, they've decided that they want politicians to think again. They've shown that there's too big a gap now between the ruling classes in Europe and the citizens of Europe."

ROMANO PRODI, FORMER EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT AND FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER
"If this is the result, I am extremely disappointed. One must reflect and pay attention to these signs of discomfort. But even taking this into account, one must forge ahead tenaciously with the European project."

DIMITRIJ RUPEL, SLOVENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
"The EU project will advance at a slower pace, it will be difficult to talk about expansion. But inside the EU we will live as we did so far. This is not the end of the world."

PHILLIPE DE VILLIERS, LEADING FRENCH EUROSCEPTIC
"We are this evening 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."

ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER ANDRUS ANSIP
"I am not happy about it. The constitution is good for Estonia and good for Europe. If France has voted no it should not stop other European countries from ratifying the constitution."

LATVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARTIS PABRIKS
"I am convinced that we should stick to the idea of the constitution. We can not turn back. It would be a disaster."

MARTIN SCHULZ, LEADER OF THE SOCIALIST GROUP IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
"The battle goes on. The ratification process must continue because all countries must have the opportunity to express their view."

FRENCH SOCIALIST SENatoR AND "NO" CAMPAIGNER JEAN-LUC MELENCHON
"The President of the Republic said we can't renegotiate it. Well, now they're going to have to renegotiate it ... If he thinks that there isn't any renegotiation or he doesn't want to renegotiate then he will have to go because what France has asked for is another constitution for Europe." "Rebel France has expressed itself."

POUL NYRUP RASMUSSEN, FORMER DANISH PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT OF THE PARTY OF EUROPEAN SOCIALISTS
"This is a sad, sad day for France, and a sad day for Europe too. But rumours of the Constitution's demise have been greatly exaggerated. We must not read the 'non' in France as a 'non' to Europe. This is not the last word on the European constitution."

POLISH FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL PAWEL SWIEBODA
"The French 'No' is first and foremost a defeat for France. It means it is choosing the past and not the future and risks losing its natural role as a political leader in Europe. Its 'No' could trigger a serious political crisis in the EU as a whole."

- REUTERS