Should ratification proceed? An Assessment of Different Options after the Failed Referenda

In the aftermath of the French and Dutch rejection of the Constitutional Treaty, EU policy-makers are scrambling to prevent further damage and to devise ways of salvaging what they feel are the essential elements of the draft treaty. Various options are being proposed as to the best way forward. Given the profound consequences that any decision taken now will have for the future of the EU, it is crucial that policy-makers have a clear idea of the alternative scenarios and the probability of finding a common agreement on them. This Policy Brief looks a little closer at the different options available and assesses their respective advantages and disadvantages.