For the second time the Head of States failed to reach an agreement about the future of the European Constitution. Already in December 2003 they had split without unity. What does this mean for the upcoming referendums planned in seven countries?

 

Poland

Poland is to delay indefinitely a referendum on the European constitution scheduled for October but still intends to hold one, its president has said. Aeksander Kwasniewski said the original date was not realistic but emphasised the need for a referendum.

Prime Minister Marek Belka made a contradictory statement saying that the parliament should quickly ratify the troubled European Union constitution, in the clearest sign yet the ruling left may drop plans for a referendum.

Beforehand, the Polish government intended to hold a referendum this year. Belka had declared, that it should be hold either together with the elections of the president on October 9 or together with other important election. in order to achieve the necessary participation of 50%.

 

Luxembourg

The Luxemburg Parliament has decided to go continue with the ratification and hold a referendum on July 10, 2005.

Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said it is up to his country's parliament to decide if a vote on the EU's crisis-torn constitution goes ahead next month.

Juncker said the assembly had approved July 10 for a referendum and that 'in light of the debate at the European Council (the parliament) must decide whether or not a longer period of dialogue is appropriate in the case of Luxembourg.'

All parties represented in parliament are reported to have unanimous the opinion to continue with the referendum. Recent opinion polls have indicated falling support for a 'yes' camp. Juncker has pledged to resign if the vote goes against him.

 

Portugal

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said his country will postpone its referendum on the European constitution after EU leaders extended the ratification deadline as a consequence of the French and Dutch rejection of the treaty.

He told that the government will instruct the parliamentary group of the ruling Socialist Party to postpone the referendum in Portugal in view of the decisions by EU leaders last night.

The government had planned to hold the referendum in October, at the same time as municipal elections, a move that would require parliament to pass a constitution amendment.

 

Denmark

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced, that the referendum planned on September 27 will be postponed.

 

 

United Kingdom

The bill to hold a referendum has not been passed over to the Parliament. The UK was the first country to interrupt the ratification process.

 

Ireland

The referendum has been postponed.

 

Czech Republic

A referendum on the European constitution could be held no sooner than elections to the Chamber of Deputies in 2006, Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek said after a meeting of government coalition party leaders on June 18. Paroubek added that it would be good if it were held in 18 to 20 months.

 

Sweden / Finland

Both countries have postponed the parliamentary ratification.

 

Austria

The right-wing party FPÖ (formally led by Jörg Heider) has announced to organize a citizens’ submission with three demands: a) No to Turkish EU-membership, b) Maintenance of the Austrian neutrality and c) a referendum on the EU-constitution. The EU-sceptic party aims to get 10% of the voters (~600.000 signatures). A submission in Austria does not enforce a referendum.