IRELAND: Ireland must press ahead with a referendum on the EU constitution even if France votes No next month, according to the European Commission.
The commission spokeswoman, Francoise Le Bail, told The Irish Times that each country must seek to ratify the constitution in its own way regardless of the outcome of the French referendum.
When they signed the constitution last year, EU leaders also signed a declaration noting that "if, two years after the signature of the treaty establishing a constitution for Europe, four-fifths of the member-states have ratified it and one or more member states have encountered difficulties in proceeding with ratification, the matter will be referred to the European Council."
Ms Le Bail said that the declaration placed a clear obligation on all member-states to seek ratification.
"This suggests clearly that the process must go on. Otherwise the European Council cannot get a clear picture," she said.
Luxembourg's prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country holds the EU presidency, this week ruled out renegotiating the constitution in the event of a French No vote. "We will pursue the ratification process, although it is true that ratifications following a No from one member state would become increasingly difficult," he said.
Mr Juncker has arranged meetings with all EU leaders, ostensibly to discuss the EU budget, for the days immediately following the French referendum on May 29th. EU officials say Mr Juncker will attempt to persuade all his colleagues on the European Council to press ahead with ratification. The Taoiseach said last month that Ireland would hold a referendum on the constitution regardless of the outcome of the French vote.