--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the constitutional treaty is rejected…" description: "\"If the constitutional treaty is rejected it will be back to square one, just at a time when we want Europe to be a more effective force for good in the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/peter-mandelson-18990_europe_if-the-constitutional-treaty-is-rejected_2048075.jpg" --- # If the constitutional treaty is rejected it will be back… ![“If the constitutional treaty is rejected it will be back to square one, just at a time when we want Europe to be a more effective force for good in the world, when we need to buttress ourselves against the pressures and insecurities of globalization.” quote by Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/peter-mandelson-18990_europe_if-the-constitutional-treaty-is-rejected_2048075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/peter-mandelson-18990_europe_if-the-constitutional-treaty-is-rejected_2048075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/peter-mandelson-18990_europe_if-the-constitutional-treaty-is-rejected_2048075.jpg) > “If the constitutional treaty is rejected it will be back to square one, just at a time when we want Europe to be a more effective force for good in the world, when we need to buttress ourselves against the pressures and insecurities of globalization.” [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rejecting the treaty would reset EU integration just as Europe needs stronger collective action against global pressures. **In simple terms:** Treaty rejection stalls EU progress. Key Takeaway Act to support unified EU policies. Themes European integration globalization political strategy Mood cautious determined Type political strategic When to use this quote - EU negotiations - trade talks - security forums Key Concepts Sovereignty collective security policy cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can EU maintain unity amid dissent? - What alternatives exist to strengthen Europe? A Different Perspective Treaty rejection may fuel nationalist backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Globalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globalization/) [Insecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecurity/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I believe neither the French nor the Dutch really rejected the constitutional treaty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-believe-neither-the-french-nor-the-dutch-really-rejected-the/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [The Government have consistently made it clear that the mechanism in the United Kingdom whereby the European draft constitutional treaty could be implemented is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-alexander/the-government-have-consistently-made-it-clear-that-the-mechanism-in/) [Douglas Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-alexander/) > [The Government have made it clear that the constitutional treaty will be ratified in the UK only after a referendum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hoon/the-government-have-made-it-clear-that-the-constitutional-treaty-will/) [Geoff Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hoon/) > [You need a debate and a vote on the principles: Do you want more Europe or less Europe? Do you believe we are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/you-need-a-debate-and-a-vote-on-the-principles-do-you-want-more/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [I want to move to one of Europe's best clubs if I leave Rotterdam, just like Robin van Persie and Kuyt did before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/i-want-to-move-to-one-of-europe-s-best-clubs-if-i-leave-rotterdam/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [I really want to do something in Europe. With a small movie, it can be an interesting challenge. But I have to get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-want-to-do-something-in-europe-with-a-small-movie-it-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The French want less Europe and more France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/the-french-want-less-europe-and-more-france/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [I don't want a Europe that is just a free-trade area attached to NATO. Even less do I want a Europe where it's everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segolene-royal/i-don-t-want-a-europe-that-is-just-a-free-trade-area-attached-to-nato/) [Segolene Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segolene-royal/) > [We accept that, in one way now, if you are 27, 28 and still playing for Ajax, you are probably not good enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/we-accept-that-in-one-way-now-if-you-are-27-28-and-still-playing-for/) [Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/) > [If I want to go to Europe and get thrashed by the Europeans, that's my business. Every race I lose I learn from and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/if-i-want-to-go-to-europe-and-get-thrashed-by-the-europeans-that-s-my/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [I dont want a Europe that is just a free-trade area attached to NATO. Even less do I want a Europe where its everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segolene-royal/i-dont-want-a-europe-that-is-just-a-free-trade-area-attached-to-nato/) [Segolene Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segolene-royal/) > [Of particular importance to us is the recognition... that what we want is a Europe of nations, not a federal super-state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/of-particular-importance-to-us-is-the-recognition-that-what-we-want/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [I want Europe to go forward, not backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/i-want-europe-to-go-forward-not-backward/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [We are in Europe, and we want a Europe that does few things and does them well, one that recognizes people's identities, languages, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/we-are-in-europe-and-we-want-a-europe-that-does-few-things-and-does/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [There's a number of journalists and politicians who are interested in the rise of the National Front and the huge nationalist gathering, the movements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/there-s-a-number-of-journalists-and-politicians-who-are-interested-in/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) ## More by Peter Mandelson > [In my experience of these things, parties which shout about dirty tricks and the like tend to do so because they fear a direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/in-my-experience-of-these-things-parties-which-shout-about-dirty/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [Few politicians are good at taking the high ground and throwing themselves off it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/few-politicians-are-good-at-taking-the-high-ground-and-throwing/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [Too often we think we can act without explaining and take decisions without justifying them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/too-often-we-think-we-can-act-without-explaining-and-take-decisions/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [“We are all Thatcherites now”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/we-are-all-thatcherites-now/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [I'm a fighter, not a quitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/i-m-a-fighter-not-a-quitter/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [We've got to demonstrate why European unity and integration, our vast single market, our single currency, equip us with the strength to embrace globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/we-ve-got-to-demonstrate-why-european-unity-and-integration-our-vast/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [It's a very good idea that we have a third term Labour government led by Tony Blair for a full term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/it-s-a-very-good-idea-that-we-have-a-third-term-labour-government-led/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [Europe lacks leadership and a sense of mission and too many people don't feel a part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/europe-lacks-leadership-and-a-sense-of-mission-and-too-many-people/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [Europe has to address people's needs directly and reflect their priorities, not our own preoccupations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/europe-has-to-address-people-s-needs-directly-and-reflect-their/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [I hesitated, too, because for better or worse, I have been one of the principal architects of New Labour and I have worked closely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/i-hesitated-too-because-for-better-or-worse-i-have-been-one-of-the/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [Essentially we need a new social consensus for economic reform as New Labour has achieved in Britain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/essentially-we-need-a-new-social-consensus-for-economic-reform-as-new/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [I'm optimistic that we are actually seeing the opportunity of a generation being created in this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/i-m-optimistic-that-we-are-actually-seeing-the-opportunity-of-a/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [I believe that if you treat China as an enemy, then it is likely to become one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/i-believe-that-if-you-treat-china-as-an-enemy-then-it-is-likely-to/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [They want to derail peace because they want to plunge Northern Ireland back into armed conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/they-want-to-derail-peace-because-they-want-to-plunge-northern/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [I have moved on from being a British parliamentarian, I have moved on from being a New Labour politician, I have moved on from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/i-have-moved-on-from-being-a-british-parliamentarian-i-have-moved-on/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) [Explore all 33 Peter Mandelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) ## More Europe quotes > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/liberalism-is-the-philosophy-for-our-time-because-it-does-not-try-to/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Conservatism aims to maintain in working order the loyalties of the community to perceived truths and also to those truths which in their judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr-2/conservatism-aims-to-maintain-in-working-order-the-loyalties-of-the/) [William F. Buckley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr-2/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [Europe is creating the flight of refugees that's tearing it apart politically, and leading rightwing nationalist parties to gain power to withdraw from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/europe-is-creating-the-flight-of-refugees-that-s-tearing-it-apart/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [We witness anti-Semitic attacks in the heart of Europe. We hear anti-Semitic slanders in European media. We feel anti-Semitic hatred in the continent that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/we-witness-anti-semitic-attacks-in-the-heart-of-europe-we-hear-anti/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [Conservatives are people who look at a tree and feel instinctively that it is more beautiful than anything they can name. But when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/conservatives-are-people-who-look-at-a-tree-and-feel-instinctively/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A man accustomed to American food and American domestic cookery would not starve to death suddenly in Europe, but I think he would gradually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-man-accustomed-to-american-food-and-american-domestic-cookery-would/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. 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