2005 should be a key year for the process of ratifying the EU Constitutional Treaty. The issue is being discussed by the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg from 10 to 13 January. The member countries are being called on to ratify the Constitution in conformity with their own constitutional rules, whether through parliamentary vote or popular referendum. The Constitution can only enter into force if all the states that form part of the EU vote in its favour. EU sources have recently noted the “state” of the process of ratification. Two states have already voted in favour through a vote in parliament: Lithuania and Hungary. “So far (January 2005) the holding of a referendum is planned in 9 member states, but the precise dates on which they are to be held have only been fixed for two of them: Spain (20 February) and Luxembourg (10 July 2005). In France, the referendum ought to take place before the summer of 2005 and in the Netherlands during the first half of 2005. In Portugal the referendum will be delayed due to the snap legislative elections in February. In the UK and Denmark the referendums are planned for early 2006. No date has yet been fixed in Poland and Ireland”. “In two member states, Germany and Belgium, no provision is made for the holding of referendums by their national Constitution, consequently it is improbable at the present time that recourse will be had to this means of ratification. It is probable on the other hand that resource will be had to a referendum in the Czech Republic, but no decision has yet been taken”. Lastly “eleven countries will pronounce on the Constitution by parliamentary means in the course of 2005: Austria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden”.
