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RésuméAu-delà de certains progrès institutionnels, le traité constitutionnel organise des espaces de coopération entre États plus qu’il ne structure un acteur politique européen. La frilosité budgétaire des États jointe aux ambiguïtés du traité laisse mal augurer de la gouvernabilité d’un ensemble à 30. Mais le traité peut sans doute permettre aux États qui le souhaitent, au-delà des difficultés de la ratification, de reprendre la construction d’une entité politique nouvelle.

The Treaty establishing a European Constitution is the result of conflicting representations of the future of European Union: on one hand, a kind of an enlarged economic space under the protection of the Atlantic Alliance which would follow common rules, and on the other hand the ideal of a more united political territory. It is the former vision, rather than the latter, which has prevailed in the text. Will this suffice to ensure proper development of the Union? This question will inevitably encourage members to use the possibility of sub-groups to reinforce their cooperation and structure their defense. Those who will vote “No” will have less legitimacy to implement this option offered by the Constitution.