SPIEGEL ONLINE: France and Netherlands Reject EU Constitution: Europe is Moving Ahead -- But Where's it Going?

SPIEGEL ONLINEFrance and Netherlands Reject EU Constitution: Europe is Moving Ahead -- But Where's it Going?

Even more trials are on the way for the tattered club, with next week's budget negotiations leading the way. The Germans and the Dutch feel like they are being bled dry whereas the new members from Eastern Europe feel as though they've been misled by promises that nobody wants to live up to anymore. The Spanish and the Italians are fighting for their subsidies and the Britons want to retain their rebate.

Furthermore, the question of Turkish accession, which is up for debate on October 3, also remains controversial. Great Britain and Italy are gung-ho supporters of Turkey. France and Germany -- should the opposition Christian Democrats win the elections in the fall -- are against the idea. And the remaining issues such as tax-dumping, social standards and environmental regulations will -- in a European ice age -- likely be more bitterly debated than they have been until now.