Dr Greg Austin, FPC Director of Research, has called on EU leaders to champion an interpretation of the French and Dutch referendums that recognises the results for what they are and calling for a review of the referendum process.

The two referendums were not a definitive vote by a majority of the electorate on the idea of the Constitution. The results were more likely a repudiation of existing elite-driven processes of EU reform.

Suspending the ratification process for a couple of years may be the minimum amount of time required for future success.