The end of the beginning?

France and Germany seek EU constitution, reports the Telegraph. This is deeply worrying. For example, the current "Charter of Fundamental Rights," which Keith Vaz (who he, ed?) said would not be justiciable and now is, does not contain a prohibition against self-crimination but does, laughably, contain a "fundamental" right to a free placement service. Moreover, as we all know, constitutions tend to be all about "ever-closer" union and do not contain provisions for secession. I have no doubt that this move was timed by Chirac and Schroder to take Blair down a peg or two. The consolation is that any Constitution will be very difficult to sell in the UK. But there's always a chance that this is being brought forward now partly to put the Euro and Corpus Juris in a less damaging light (this is a tactic Pompey used in the 60s BC, for goodness' sake). This is one to keep a very close eye on.