Francúzske "nie" Európskej únii?
French Voted "No" for the EU?

Summary/Abstract: The most important event within the European Union after its enlargement to 25 countries in May 2004 was the approval of the European Constitutional Agreement. Its ratifi cation either by particular member countries of the European Union in their national parliaments, or by means of referendum, was not the easiest way and it met with various complications. The President of the French Republic decided to present the text to the French citizens in a referendum. We consider it necessary to present and clarify the development and consequences of the French “No” reply to the European Constitutional Agreement, because mainly in our geographical region, this “No” is sometimes taken as if we are against the Union or against its enlargement. In the fi rst part of the work we briefl y describe the reasons, foundation and approbation of the European Constitutional Agreement. Afterwards we present the functioning of referendum in the 5th French Republic according to the Constitution from 1958. Crucial is the third part of the paper introducing facts connected with the development of public opinion, results and the consequences of voting on the domestic and international scene.

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