April 24, 2004: "In or out? Tony Blair gives England a choice: the EU or isolation" was how the prestigious weekly "Die Zeit" summarized British prime minister Tony Blair's announcement that British voters would decide in a referendum whether or not to accept the new constitution for the European Union (2004:18). Blair's decision to submit the acceptance of a new EU constitution to the will of the British people appears to be a concession to Britain's anti-EU boulevard press and the opposition Conservative Party, which has consistently demanded a national referendum on the issue.

In an interview with Germany's national television network ZDF, German finance minister Hans Eichel said he could envision a single referendum held within the entire EU. In Eichel's opinion, however, national referendums in individual countries "are unreasonable." Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel also spoke out against having individual referendums: "It would be too easy to mix domestic politics with a key European decision, and that is always dangerous."

Some wondered what choice of words Blair would use in presenting the decision to be made by British voters. "Is it a treaty? A constitutional treaty? Or perhaps even a constitution?" asked the "Berliner Zeitung". Blair had previously argued that the European Constitution "was only a treaty like the earlier ones from Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice. Who would be against a revision and partial new wording of old texts if the expanded EU is to continue to function?" (April 22, 2004). His position has apparently changed since the pro-EU Labour party member that he appointed to Europe's constitutional committee, Gisela Stuart, called the proposed EU Constitution a "bureaucratic monster" ("Die Zeit", op. cit.).

"Concessions that would bend the basic structure of the constitution" and make it more palatable for British voters "aren't possible," according to the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" from Munich. If the British reject the constitution, "there would be only one way to prevent the death of the project: The British would have to leave the EU" (April 22, 2004). For Klaus Hänsch, a member of the EU parlament from Germany, the "logical consequence" of a no vote in a British referendum would also be "that the British should leave the EU" (Focus, 2004:18).

The implementation of a constitution for the European Union will require approval by all EU members. If a British referendum were defeated, the other option – continued British membership – could only mean the death of the EU constitution.