The Washington Times (of all places) carries a UPI text about a Deutsch Bank research note on the economic consequences of the French ‘no’:
“France’s rejection of the European Union constitutional treaty by a majority of 54.9 percent is a severe blow to European integration and threatens to depress European economy back into eurosclerosis as in [...]

It’s in French, but it’s mostly figures - IPSOS has published the detailed results of their post-referendum survey.
Interestingly, the ‘yes’-camp seemed to fare well among those voters who made up their minds shortly before voting.

I don’t think it’s fair to talk about European regulatory madness as long as there isn’t a directive handling… Cheese Rolling (from the BBC, hat tip to viewropa)
“Cheese Rolling is one of the oldest customs to have survived in Great Britain. It’s been going on for hundreds of years and some say it has its [...]

It’s official. The new French PM is Dominique de Villepin. Nicholas Sarkozy (inside the tent) will be the new interior minister.
The FT has some biography on de Villepin, and this on Sarkozy and protectionism.
Update: Amandine at Animal Politique has some info and opinion on de Villepin.
Opinions?

Just another item to add to the list of bad news:
European business confidence dropped to a 21-month low in May and consumers were the most pessimistic in a year as oil prices around $50 a barrel and unemployment near a five-year high dimmed the outlook for economic growth.
An index gauging confidence among 35,000 executives in [...]

Despite the recent surge in German GDP and export growth, and the ongoing structural reforms, German unemployment remains stubbornly high.
German unemployment was unchanged in May at close to a post-World War II high, dealing a blow to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s chances of re-election.
The jobless rate, adjusted for seasonal swings, held at 11.8 percent, close to [...]

the Czech president has become the first prominent EU politician to call for the ratification process to stop after the French vote.
According to the Czech news agency CTK, Vaclav Klaus, a well-known eurosceptic, said that to carry on the ratification process would be useless, although the Czech prime minister has said he is in favour [...]

If the Netherlands vote ‘no’ tomorrow (and the opinion polls don’t seem to leave much room for doubt), then according to the FT Jack Straw will tell the House of Commons next Monday that the UK government is immediately suspending parliamentary passage of the European treaty bill. This means the ratification process will [...]

The euro fell to a seven-month low in Asia and had the biggest fluctuation of any currency on concern the rejection of a proposed European Union constitution will slow the region’s economic integration…………
Against the dollar, the euro fell to $1.2370, the lowest since Oct. 14. It bought $1.2390 at 2:05 p.m. in Tokyo from $1.2475 [...]

Angela Merkel, the German opposition Christian Democrat leader, has promised that initiatives to cut unemployment would ?be at the centre of my thoughts and actions?. Laudible ideals, delivering on them may prove rather more difficult than Ms Merkel imagines. Still, she is focusing the debate on the relevant areas:
Mrs Merkel acknowledged that Germany was [...]