EU Constitution - Ratification

Parliamentary approval

The Constitution was approved in the lower house on 25th of January 2005 and sent to the Senate. The vote in the Senate has been delayed three times already, under the request of the centre rights political groups. It could take place in April or May 2005.

The Italians already voted in favour for a European constitution in 1989(!). Governmental representatives in the Convention have signed the referendum resolution of the European Referendum Campaign. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as well as Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini had indicated that Italy would hold a referendum. Prime Minister Berlusconi was quoted: 'In our system it is up to the parliament to decide upon the EU Constitution, but a referendum is a more democratic procedure. I personally don ’t see any obstacles for a referendum.'

In November 2004 the government has announced that the Italian Constitution forbids a referendum. Article 75 states that referendums may not be held on matters relating to the budget, prison amnesties or “the ratification of international treaties”.

Italy

: area ~ 301.000 sq km

previous referendum on European issues

On 18 June 1989, to coincide with the European elections, a consultative referendum was organised on the question of whether to transform the European Communities into a real Union, with a government answerable to Parliament, granting the European Parliament the mandate to draw up a draft European Constitution to be ratified directly by the institutions of the Member States of the Community. As this type of referendum is not provided for in the Constitution, the Italian Parliament adopted a constitutional law in order to hold it. This led to a ‘yes’ vote of 88%, with a turnout of 85.4%.