Lithuania ratifies EU constitution

The Baltic state of Lithuania yesterday became the first EU member state to ratify the European constitution only 10 days after EU leaders signed the constitutional treaty at a ceremony in Rome.

Lithuania, which joined the EU on May 1 together with Malta and eight other countries, ratified the document by parliamentary vote. Eighty-four voted in favour of the constitution with four MPs voting against and three abstentions. Ratification came on the last day of the current legislature as Parliament is being dissolved following the recent general election. Before yesterday's ratification there had been some discussion about whether to have a referendum on the issue.

However, Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis said that Lithuanians had already voted to join the EU and there was no need for the constitution to be approved by a popular vote.

The government of Luxembourg has set July 10, 2005, as the date for the ratification of the European constitution through a referendum, according to an announcement made by Foreign Minister Jean Assemborn. The referendum, the first in Luxembourg since 1937, will take place only 10 days after the end of its EU presidency, which begins in January.

According to a recent survey, 59 per cent of Luxembourg citizens will vote yes and about 17 per cent will oppose it. Twenty-four per cent are still undecided.