European Union partners voiced concern today over growing opposition in France to the EU's first constitution, stressing there was no fallback plan if ratification is rejected in a May referendum.
Founding heavyweight France is the second EU state after Spain to put the bloc's first charter to a popular vote, on May 29, and an opinion poll published on Saturday showed 56 per cent of French voters plan to say "No".
Senior EU leaders said that such a political earthquake would plunge the 25-nation bloc into uncertainty. Fear of such an outcome prompted EU foreign ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, to rally behind their French colleague, Michel Barnier.
"If France votes no, it will be difficult in Europe," Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told reporters. "I am convinced the French will make the right choice."
Luxembourg holds the EU's rotating presidency until the end of June and would have to cope with the fallout of a negative vote in France.
Poland said a French "No" would not only spark a crisis, but could split the EU and throw integration into reverse.
"The consequences of not ratifying the European constitution will be a crisis and the possibility of divisions within the Union. It will create concepts of a two- or more-tiered Europe," Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka said in Warsaw.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel echoed this sentiment in Luxembourg, saying: "I am extremely worried ... Politically this would be a disaster."