The "Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe" has repeatedly sustained the blows of being rejected by France and Holland and put aside by Britain. Presently, there is really a kind of "To be, or not to be" puzzle. Some "European skeptics" on the continent claim the EU constitution has died, "the last nail has been driven into the coffin". However, supporters say, "This is not an end, but only a halt".

The process of EU constitutional making is buffeted by wind and rain, and the European integration process is at a crossroads. Currently, leaders of the EU and its member countries are engaged in urgent consultations to seek a way to get rid of this crisis. Leaders supporting the EU constitutional treaty solemnly declare: We are determined to defend Europe.

Judging from the current situation, the EU constitution is being grilled between birth and death. The reason for being difficult of birth is: the enlargement of the EU in recent years has, in the process, brought about all kinds of interest and mental clashes among member countries. Additionally, the European economic situation is not so optimistic in recent years, which has entailed somewhat expansion of the market of "European skepticism". The French and Dutch referendum results are a reflection of such a situation. If the ratification procedure is to be completed in the next 16 months in adherence to EU's original plan, the constitution will again be possibly rejected by referendum in some countries, that will smear the public image of the EU and endanger the political positions of the leaders of its member countries.

The reason for being difficult of death is: The EU has, after all, traversed a 50-odd-year course of growth, developing from six to 25 member countries. Its existence has brought many conveniences for the development and cooperation of European countries, becoming a kind of iconic symbol of Europe and a psychological pride of many Europeans. It is impossible for the leader of any EU country to ignore this physical benefit and psychological need and to declare the death of the constitution. As a Reuters report put it: No one wants to be the first to play the role of Cassius, assassin of Julius Caesar.

Under such a dilemma, Europe faces two possible choices. One is to handle the constitution in a somewhat flexible way by drawing out some most necessary and urgent clauses, packing them into an agreement and submitting it to the parliaments of member countries for approval, so as to ensure a more smooth EU operation in future. This is a way of breaking up the whole into parts. The other way is to prolong the ratification timetable, so as to allow leaders of member countries bigger room for maneuver. This is a way of leaving the job to time.

It is not the first time in history that the process of EU integration is battered by wind and rain. Over the past half century, this process has wound through a bumpy path yet continuously expanded and deepened. In face of the current constitution crisis, a historical perspective is advisable. It is inconceivable that if the EU were nonexistent, how would today's Europeans live and identify themselves. The EU, as a transnational organization, has brought Europe peace and cooperation among countries over the past decades, gone deep into various facets of the Europeans' daily life and become a new identification of many Europeans.

Perhaps it is the increasing role of EU, among other things, that turned it into a punching bag. As is known to all, a political act as referendum is easily swayed by a gust of sentiments. But in the long process of history, the objectively existing economic and political demands will play a more lasting role. It seems one may view the current crisis in such a way: despite being "battered by wind and rain", the EU constitution can still wait for the day when the sky clears.

Carried on the first page of the Overseas Edition of People's Daily, June 10, this article by Huang Qing is translated by People's Daily Online