This article was originally written on 15 May 2005 and published on blog.luxzenburg.org. It is republished here as a historical document and reflects the author’s ideas at the time of writing.

The French non has exposed several problems within the European Union.

First, the democratic deficit. Politicians emphasise that citizens can vote for their national and European representatives, but for most people the Union has remained an invisible entity, even as its powers have risen to unprecedented heights.

Second, the lack of a clear vision for the future. This constitution made no clear choice. Politicians once again emphasised that there would be no European superstate. But as a Dutch philosopher noted: the Union follows the reverse path of what would be logical and just. It involves itself in policy that belongs at lower levels of government — education, agriculture, regional development — while leaving to national governments and lower authorities what should be regulated at a larger scale: defence and international relations.

The Union and its member states must make clear choices and involve citizens more directly. The constitution did have at least one positive side effect: people are now talking about Europe. I have never heard as many political discussions on the street as in the run-up to the referendum. Interest in neighbouring countries also increased — what is happening in France, what are the others choosing? All of that became a topic of conversation.

For now, the constitution is dead. But the next generation of Europeans can shape their own Europe — without the old guard of nationally minded politicians. Young people still feel French, Dutch, British or German, but they also see what Europe means and can mean for them, if the older generation does not block integration out of nationalist sentiment.

One curious footnote: in deeply divided France, communists and neo-Nazis of Le Pen jointly celebrated a victory over the centre. That must have been a strange feeling for both groups. Perhaps even the foundation of a new coalition?