The vote against the Constitution is the sign of a lack of adjustment to today’s world and of a crisis of decision-making in all democratic countries. Has the European process reached the point of no return? Although a new start is far from assured, there is a ‘demand for Europe’, mainly in the fields where the European Union has so far been ineffective: making Europe’s voice heard in international crises, acting in favour of peace and development. On this path we will run into two difficulties: the consequences of enlargement and the inadequacy of institutional mechanisms. ‘Enhanced cooperation’ will allow us to go forward, while giving the European architecture a somewhat baroque appearance. This method is not applicable for foreign policy in which, for a long time, we shall have to make do with ad hoc measures and pretences, which will accentuate the baroque character of the system.
