All EU states must ratify treaty - Jack Straw

All 25 states of the enlarged European Union must ratify the bloc's constitution, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said yesterday, dismissing suggestions the treaty could be passed by 20 states.

Britain's decision to hold a referendum on a constitution - expected to be agreed by EU leaders in June - has sparked worries the proposed charter might never enter into force.

French and German officials suggested earlier this month a clause could be introduced that demanded approval by 20 of the 25 member states.

"We are negotiating this treaty at 25. For it to come into force, 25 have to agree," Mr Straw told parliamentarians, adding he was unaware of any proposal that would allow the treaty to come into force without the approval of all members.

Mr Straw reiterated that Britain would not agree to any treaty that crossed its "red lines", under which it wants to preserve national vetoes on taxation, social security, criminal law, defence and foreign policy.

"If we do not get the right results, we will not sign up," he said.

At EU talks last week, Britain angered other leaders by seeking fresh assurances that a Charter of Fundamental Rights, adopted as a political declaration in 2001, would not create legal obligations once incorporated into the constitution.