Verhofstadt wants referendum on EU constitution

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said yesterday he favoured holding a referendum on any future European Union constitution.

A new constitution for the EU is seen as vital for the smooth operation of the bloc, which expanded to 25 members from 15 on May 1.

"Just like in many other countries our population has the right, at a certain time once the constitution is approved, to present its views," Mr Verhofstadt told VRT radio in an interview.

Mr Verhofstadt - who faces both regional and European Parliament elections on June 13, and is seen as a front runner to replace EU Commission President Romano Prodi - proposes to launch a consultative referendum within 50 days of the approval of the EU constitution.

The Liberal politician said he would respect the outcome. "I would follow the advice of the population," he said. Mr Verhofstadt also said the EU's executive body should carefully monitor whether new legislation would increase red tape, harm jobs or hurt the purchasing power of consumers.

"Whenever Europe issues new measures, directives, it would have to check whether it complies with three criteria. Does it avoid reducing the purchasing power of people... does it create or destroy jobs... does it avoid extra bureaucracy," Mr Verhofstadt said.

He added that creating new jobs was Europe's top priority. "Europe should occupy itself with not taking so many measures or directives which are bureaucratic." In a newspaper interview, Mr Verhofstadt played down speculation he was in the running to replace Mr Prodi.

"That ritual pops up every five years. And the last week before the definitive choice (an EU summit later this month) someone comes forward nobody had ever thought of," he told De Tijd financial daily. Mr Verhofstadt's coalition of Liberals and Socialists came to power in 1999 on a platform of reforming Belgium by cutting red tape and creating 200,000 new jobs by 2008.