French and Dutch should vote again on EU treaty: Belgian FM
Eurobusiness
July 6, 2005
France and the Netherlands should vote again on the European Union's constitution despite rejecting the treaty in referendums, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht said on Wednesday.
He said both countries, founder members of the bloc, were due for elections early in 2007, which might provide an opportunity for the treaty to be put to the people a second time.
"We can create a climate in which the treaty could finally be adopted in France and the Netherlands," he told reporters in Brussels.
"We must not rule out a second round, which could not take place before 2007. This second round could take several forms, but we have to proceed with a second vote," he said.
"I could not foresee that the procedure be changed and that a parliamentary ratification takes place instead," he added.
By rejecting the treaty, French and Dutch voters helped throw the bloc into its biggest crisis in five decades. EU leaders announced last month a "period of reflection" in which to reconsider the union's future direction.
Eleven countries have already adopted the treaty, only one by plebiscite, but several other members have since put their ratification plans on hold.
Luxembourg will hold a referendum on it on Sunday.
All 25 members must ratify the treaty, aimed in part at improving decision-making in the expanding bloc, if it is to legally take force.
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