EU: The European Parliament is expected to pass a resolution tomorrow recommending EU member-states to adopt the new Constitutional Treaty agreed on June 18th last year in the final days of Ireland's European Presidency writes Deaglán de Bréadún in Strasbourg.
Members will debate the Constitution all day today at a parliamentary session in Strasbourg and a substantial majority of the 732 MEPs from 25 member-states is likely to approve the document in a vote tomorrow.
This vote has no legal standing but is likely to give an impetus to the ratification process in the member-states. So far, Lithuania and Hungary have ratified the document and the remaining EU members will vote on it by referendum or in their national parliaments.
Ireland's referendum is likely to be held in autumn this year, with early next year as an outside possibility. Much will depend on the outcome of the French referendum, expected to take place in April or May. A French popular endorsement of the document will make an Irish poll in the autumn more likely, whereas a French rejection may cause the Government to delay the Irish vote.
Referendums are also planned in Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. The UK result is widely regarded as the most problematic for advocates of the Constitution, with a strong possibility of a No vote.
Meanwhile, the Parliament last night debated the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and the Fianna Fáil MEP, Mr Liam Aylward, said it was disappointing that the US and Australia had not signed up so far.
Noting that the UK would assume the European presidency in the second half of the year, Mr Aylward said: "The British government may be in a very strong diplomatic position to coax the American government to move forward on this matter in a more constructive way."
On Northern Ireland issues, the Ulster Unionist MEP, Mr Jim Nicholson, will today propose the extension of funding for the EU's Peace Programme for Ireland by a further two years, until the end of 2006. This would take place in parallel with an extension of EU funding for the International Fund for Ireland.
Tomorrow, the Parliament will hear statements from the European Council and Commission on the flood disaster in South-East Asia. MEPs will also discuss debt relief for developing countries, an issue which has been given renewed prominence by the Asia tragedy. Luxembourg, which has taken over the European Presidency, will also announce its programme for the next six months.
EU treaty: who votes, and when
Nine EU member-states are planning referendums on the Constitution, they include:
Spain February 20th
France April or May
Netherlands This spring
Portugal Scheduled for April 10th delayed because of elections next month
Luxembourg July 10th
Ireland Probably this autumn
Poland May be late summer/autumn to coincide with Presidential election.
United Kingdom Possibly spring 2006
Denmark Late 2005 or early 2006
(The Czech Republic may also hold a referendum, but no decision has been taken.)