Not Adopting EU Constitution Will Marginalize Britain, Warns

 

Michael Drudge¹

The principal architect of the European Union constitution says Britain will be left on the sidelines of Europe, if it rejects the treaty in a referendum.

The warning about Britain's place in Europe comes from Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the former French president, who chaired the committee that drafted the constitution.

Mr. Giscard d'Estaing told British radio on Thursday that if some countries, like Britain, decide not to adopt the constitution, they will be left behind, if the majority of European countries forward with greater integration².

"If, by bad luck, the British finally said 'no,' and the other Europeans said 'we want to go,' then they will have to find an accommodation," he said. "And, it is true that, in that case, Britain will not be in the core of the system, but on the margin³ of the system."

Mr. Giscard d'Estaing was reacting to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's surprise announcement last week that the constitution being negotiated in Brussels will be voted on in Britain in a referendum.

No date has been set, but political commentators⁴ believe Mr. Blair will wait until after a general election, expected about a year from now.

The Blair government admits it will have a hard time winning over a skeptical⁵ public, as polls indicate most Britons believe the constitution would rob their country of sovereignty over many aspects of public policy.

The opposition⁶ Conservative Party on Thursday opened its campaign for European parliament elections in June with an assault on the proposed constitution by its leader, Michael Howard.

"Conservatives don't want a European constitution," he said. "Countries have constitutions, and we don't want to be part of a country called Europe."

Britain's announcement of a referendum has increased pressure for a similar vote in other EU countries. Luxembourg says it also plans a referendum, but French President Jacques Chirac told a news conference Thursday it is too early to decide the matter.
注释：
architect [5B:kitekt] n. 设计师，建筑师
sideline [5saidlain] n. 边界线，局外
referendum [7refE5rendEm] n. 全民公决
integration [7inti5^reiFEn] n. 综合
accommodation [E7kCmE5deiFEn] n.（社会集团间的）迁就融合
skeptical [5skeptikEl] adj. 怀疑性的
poll [pEul] n. 民意测验
rob [rCb] v. 剥夺
sovereignty [5sCvrinti] n. 主权
parliament [5pB:lEmEnt] n. 国会，议会
assault [E5sC:lt] n. 攻击，袭击
Conservative [kEn5sE:vEtiv] n. 保守派
European constitution 欧盟宪法

 

1 drudge   

n.劳碌的人；v.做苦工，操劳

参考例句：

• I feel like a real drudge--I've done nothing but clean all day!我觉得自己像个做苦工的--整天都在做清洁工作！
• I'm a poor,miserable,forlorn drudge;I shall only drag you down with me.我是一个贫穷，倒运，走投无路的苦力，只会拖累你。

2 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

3 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

4 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。