EU Constitution - Ratification
No referendum - Parliamentary approval
Both chambers of the Austrian Parliament have ratifed the EU Constitution in May 2005.
There seemed to be a political will to hold a referendum - even governmental representatives in the Convention had signed the referendum resolution of the European Referendum Campaign.
Chancellor Schüssel argued in favour of a Europe-wide referendum. He has repeated this proposal last time in November 2004.
Peace groups and the umbrella organization of the Austrian trade union congress (Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund - ÖGB) have demanded a referendum.
The Austrian Constitution provides referendums if it is effected by total or partial revision. Otherwise a binding referendum requires an implementation by constitutional amendment. Public opinion poll expressly provided.
Latest News
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.
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