2006 Euro Constitution referendum next challenge for group formed to push for EU membership
A book entitled "We're In Europe: What Next?" has just been published, featuring essays from a variety of politicians and commentators, all of them in favour of European integration. It has been brought out by the group Ano pro Evropu, or Yes for Europe. At the launch on Wednesday evening, I met one of the editors, Monika McDonagh-Pajerova, and asked her why - over a year after Czechs voted to join the EU, and almost six months after they actually became members - the group Yes for Europe still exists.
"That's a good question. We ourselves, when we founded 'Yes for Europe' two years ago, thought it would be an ad hoc advocacy group for the referendum. And it was only later on that we realised that the steady permanent support is needed so that the pro-European policies can be realised.
"So we decided - when we saw the falling of public support - we realised it is very necessary to have at least one wide, cross-political advocacy group for Yes that doesn't do only campaigns before elections but also explains things from everyday life to people."
How mainstream would you say your beliefs are? I would say, for instance, that Vaclav Klaus, the president, isn't the only Czech who's worried about deeper integration. Would you say your opinions are mainstream, or more on the right?
"I would say society is maybe split into two. It really is about fifty-fifty. And that's why it's so important to keep on talking about the issue, to keep on having an awareness of what's going on, how is it important, and that we really do have to use the potential of the membership.
"Because when we don't do this work, the other part, which is the anti-European, very sceptical right-left and right wing, I would say - funnily enough, as in many countries - would take over with their argumentation. So we are basically forced to continue. Because the anti-European and sceptical voices are very active."
The Czechs will have the chance to vote on the European Constitution in two years time, at the same time as the next general elections in 2006 - will pushing for the Constitution be your next big challenge?
"Absolutely, but it will be much more difficult than our last campaign [which began] in 2002, because it won't be any more about 'are you pro-European or are you anti-European?'. It's a much more subtle and complicated and more complex question.
"And as you know the European Constitution isn't one of the most readable of documents. So we will really have to work hard on finding good argumentation, understandable language and trustworthy people who can explain it."
