Following the October 29th signing of the European Constitution on the Capitoline Hill in Rome by leaders of the EU's 25 member nations, the final decision to ratify the agreement will be made by voters in nine countries.
France, Denmark, Portugal, and the Czech Republic will hold referendums, whereas in countries such as Belgium and the UK, where there is no constitutional precedent for plebiscites, they will be held with the results subject to parliamentary approval. In the remaining member nations, ratification will be approved by parliaments directly. Failure on the part of any one country to ratify the agreement will stall the entire constitutional process.
Support is said to be particularly strong in Denmark, where almost 75 per cent of decided voters intend to support ratification. In the UK, where public support for the EU is viewed as political suicide, it is said that Tony Blair hopes France rejects the proposed constitution before he is forced to face what seems to be certain defeat on the issue in March 2006.
» The Economist: The Thing That Won't Go Away
» Berria: 25 EU Members Sign European Constitution in Rome
» Fenêtre sur l'Europe: The European Constitution: Signing is Not Enough
» CPOD: In Denmark, European Constitution Has Many Backers
The Dominion is a monthly paper published by an incipient network of independent journalists in Canada. It aims to provide accurate, critical coverage that is accountable to its readers and the subjects it tackles. Taking its name from Canada's official status as both a colony and a colonial force, the Dominion examines politics, culture and daily life with a view to understanding the exercise of power.