Schroeder joins France's EU campaign
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-27 10:56

The leaders of France and Germany joined forces Tuesday to try to save Europe's embattled constitution, warning French voters they could set back European ambitions if they reject the charter in a referendum.

French polls have shown a steady opposition to the charter. A poll published Friday, indicated 62 percent of voters will reject the constitution in France's May 29 referendum — the highest figure so far.

All 25 European Union members must approve the text for it to take effect. A French rejection could spur "no" votes elsewhere.

French President Jacques Chirac, right, points at a reporter as he and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder hold a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris Tuesday April 26, 2005, after a joint meeting of the French and German cabinets to discuss economic cooperation and the European Union constitution. Polls show the French could reject the treaty in a May 29 referendum. [AP]

The constitution provides for a foreign minister and a president to give the European Union greater clout on the international stage, and streamlines decision making while simplifying voting rules for adopting laws.

With less than five weeks before the referendum, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder joined French President Jacques Chirac at a news conference to rally support for the charter.

Chirac said a 'no' would leave France on the sidelines of a Europe it helped to build.

"France would find itself on the edge of the platform as the train went past," he said. "If we vote 'no,' we will be responsible for interrupting 50 years of European construction."

Schroeder promised that his government will do everything possible to back French ratification.

"We will reproach ourselves later if we let this historic opportunity to advance Europe slip by," Schroeder said.

Germany, the most populous EU member with 82 million people, is submitting the charter to lawmakers for approval and does not plan a referendum.

Treaty opponents in France say they will lose French jobs and sovereignty in the EU's giant market.

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