--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since 2005, when the French and the Dutch…" description: "\"Since 2005, when the French and the Dutch voted \"no\" on a constitution for Europe, nobody has developed a real project for the EU. And certainly not Fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/emmanuel-macron-3474_constitution_since-2005-when-the-french-and-the-dutch_2801282.jpg" --- # Since 2005, when the French and the Dutch voted "no" on a… ![“Since 2005, when the French and the Dutch voted "no" on a constitution for Europe, nobody has developed a real project for the EU. And certainly not France. If there were ideas, they came from Wolfgang Schäuble or Joschka Fischer, and these German ideas were downright quashed by France. I want to…” quote by Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/emmanuel-macron-3474_constitution_since-2005-when-the-french-and-the-dutch_2801282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/emmanuel-macron-3474_constitution_since-2005-when-the-french-and-the-dutch_2801282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/emmanuel-macron-3474_constitution_since-2005-when-the-french-and-the-dutch_2801282.jpg) > “Since 2005, when the French and the Dutch voted "no" on a constitution for Europe, nobody has developed a real project for the EU. And certainly not France. If there were ideas, they came from Wolfgang Schäuble or Joschka Fischer, and these German ideas were downright quashed by France. I want to put an end to that.” [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker criticizes the EU's lack of initiative since 2005, blaming France for stifling German proposals and calling for renewed collaboration. **In simple terms:** EU stagnates due to French resistance to German ideas. Key Takeaway Promote cross‑national cooperation. Themes politics EU collaboration Mood critical optimistic Type analytical strategic When to use this quote - budget negotiations - legislative reforms - energy projects - defense initiatives - digital market Key Concepts sovereignty policy inertia Questions to Reflect On - How can member states balance national interests with EU unity? - What mechanisms can ensure equitable idea sharing? A Different Perspective French opposition may be rooted in legitimate concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) ## Related quotes > [Europe was initially supposed to be primarily a political project! 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For the moral beliefs which Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-siedentop/if-we-want-to-understand-the-distinctive-constitution-of-europe-we/) Larry Siedentop > [I did publish a Bill once called "Common Sense" with a new constitution for Europe called the "Commonwealth of Europe," setting it all out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/i-did-publish-a-bill-once-called-common-sense-with-a-new-constitution/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More by Emmanuel Macron > [I'm a child of provincial France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/i-m-a-child-of-provincial-france/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [I make no concessions to conformism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/i-make-no-concessions-to-conformism/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [Our children and grandchildren visit us regularly in the Élysée Palace . The little ones are constantly running around outside in the garden. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/our-children-and-grandchildren-visit-us-regularly-in-the-lys-e-palace/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [I want to help with Muslim integration. If you follow the line of Marine Le Pen, you create a civil war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/i-want-to-help-with-muslim-integration-if-you-follow-the-line-of/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [Ambition is never modest. If modesty means to have middling success, then I can only say: I'm not interested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/ambition-is-never-modest-if-modesty-means-to-have-middling-success/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [I'm not a movie star, and I don't want to become a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/i-m-not-a-movie-star-and-i-don-t-want-to-become-a-movie-star/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [Germany is different from France. You are more Protestant, which results in a significant difference. Through the church, through Catholicism, French society was structured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/germany-is-different-from-france-you-are-more-protestant-which/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [I have great respect for Angela Merkel, even if we have a lot of differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/i-have-great-respect-for-angela-merkel-even-if-we-have-a-lot-of/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [We can't fix the real problems if we only cauterize and don't treat the roots of evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/we-can-t-fix-the-real-problems-if-we-only-cauterize-and-don-t-treat/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [Let's put an end to this European civil war, the existence of which we don't want to admit, and stop constantly looking at whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/let-s-put-an-end-to-this-european-civil-war-the-existence-of-which-we/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [Our international role depends on a strong Europe and a strong Europe depends on France's ability to share leadership with others, including Germany. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/our-international-role-depends-on-a-strong-europe-and-a-strong-europe/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [When I am with French people, I am not aloof because I belong to them. My view is that the French president belongs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/when-i-am-with-french-people-i-am-not-aloof-because-i-belong-to-them/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [There is something very powerful about German music. That's why I chose German music with a European meaning for the day of my election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/there-is-something-very-powerful-about-german-music-that-s-why-i/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [Europe and the world are waiting for us to defend the spirit of the enlightenment everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/europe-and-the-world-are-waiting-for-us-to-defend-the-spirit-of-the/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [I do write, but for now I am keeping it all in the desk drawer. I have always written. The only book that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/i-do-write-but-for-now-i-am-keeping-it-all-in-the-desk-drawer-i-have/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) [Explore all 130 Emmanuel Macron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) [Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Since 2005, when the French and the Dutch voted \"no\" on a constitution for Europe, nobody has developed a real project for the EU. And certainly not France. 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