Parliamentary approval

After the "no" in the the referendums in France and the Netherlands the approval has been postponed.

At a meeting of the various political parties and Prime Minister Vanhanen (Center Party) on 3 September 2004, it was found that the coalition parties and the main opposition party did not think that an advisory referendum on the European Constitution was necessary. He claimed that the country’s relationship with the Union would not change enough to warrant a mass plebiscite.

Only the other opposition parties (Green League, Left Alliance and True Finns) are still demanding a referendum. Two of these parties are preparing a draft law. In August 2004 the Minister of Justice Johannes Koskinen had considered holding a referendum together with the presidential elections in 2006.

The parliament will vote on the document in December or January.

Read more facts on the ratification.