Is it a good or bad idea for all member states to hold a referendum? It would be a very good idea. On the margins of the Convention, lots of little groups of different members come together to promote various ideas. One such group is promoting the idea of a Europe-wide referendum. That may take many different forms, but we have no way of obliging Germany to have a referendum. Germany will run 1,000 miles from the notion of a referendum, particularly in light of the experience in the 1930s and the rise of Hitler. Other countries in Europe have had similar experiences, resulting in similar knee-jerk reactions to the idea of a referendum, although that is not to say they will not take that route some day.