KARACHI, March 18: Ambassador of France Mr Regis de Belenet on Saturday said that his country had proposed holding of a referendum on any future expansion of the European Union, adding that the move won’t be Turkey-specific.

Speaking at the Area Study Centre for Europe on The European Union: Challenges and Prospects, he expressed the view that the EU membership, which had increased from six to 25 in three decades, would soon go up to 27.

He said that the EU’s strides in economic integration, as well as political and military cooperation, showed its resilience, despite the recent rejection of the draft constitutional treaty by two of its founding members.

In the aftermath of the rejection, he said, a number of amendments and changes were being contemplated to accommodate the objections raised by various members.

The French envoy highlighted the causes leading to the rejection of the draft treaty in his country and said that prospects of a more vigorous orientation towards market economy, coupled with the fear of erosion of France’s social welfare system prevented not only the socialist voters from supporting the treaty but even the pro-EU elements who showed a change of heart generally owing to socio-economic pressures.

Besides, he added, the tedious and lengthy text of the draft also dissipated the interest of voters.

The French ambassador maintained that the fear of the possible inclusion of Turkey in the EU was played up by the right-wing elements to effect the rejection.

He emphasized that rejection of the draft treaty did not mean that the EU was at the dead end, and said that the draft could be resurrected through revisions and amendments, adjusting the pace of EU expansion with is integration.

ASCE Director Dr Naveed Ahmad Tahir said that the EU was being viewed by the developing world, especially since 9/11, as an important centre of economic and political power that had the capacity to steer the world towards moderation, peace and stability.

This expectation was owing to the fact that since the end of the cold war, it has made impressive strides in not only deepening European integration but also expanding it to include the former satellite states of the Soviet Union, in the East and the Central Europe.

Thus, she said,, the EU had played a vital role in dismantling most of the barriers put up during the cold war and piloted the continent towards democracy, market economy and stability. She hoped that the EU would uphold and promote multilateralism in the international affairs.