The media reaction in Europe over the Irish 'no' vote is interesting. Contrary to expectations, there have been quite a few pieces like this one in Der Spiegel in Germany calling for a new direction for the EU, in favour of democracy:
"European governments are at their wits' end. It is time for them to admit it -- and let the public decide about the future of the European Union."
Yesterday in the House of Commons in a thinly attended debate, Bernard Jenkin and I each made the point that the Irish 'no' vote should be seen as an opportunity for radical change. David Heathcoat-Amory called for a return to the principles first laid out in the 2001 Laeken Declaration calling for a more open, democratic Europe, whilst Sir Malcolm Rifkind sought a solution in an 'a la carte Europe'. Different voices, all with a common theme - the Irish have given us an opportunity to change Europe fundamentally, but that opportunity must be seized now.
Compare this with the Government's depressingly passive and defeatist response, as set out by David Miliband on Monday:
"We should allow the ratification process to continue in all countries; we should then see what the Irish decide to do and plan our next moves after that."
This sounds depressingly like the "wait and see" of the 1990s. Surely we can do better than this?
