EU: Spain and Portugal have announced they will hold referendums on the EU's constitutional treaty, bringing to 10 the number of member-states that will put the treaty to a vote. Denis Staunton reports from Brussels.
Spain's Prime Minister, Mr José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, told parliament in Madrid he would put the constitution to the people before ratifying it.
"My intention, as we set out in the election manifesto ... is to hold a referendum so that all Spanish citizens can express themselves about the new text of the constitution," he said.
Portugal's Mr José Manuel Durao Barroso said his country would hold a referendum early next year.
"The referendum should be held during 2005, but at the start of 2005, obviously, given that there are local elections in the autumn of next year," he said.
Ireland, Britain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland and the Czech Republic are almost certain to hold referendums on the constitutional treaty and France has yet to decide whether to consult voters on the treaty.
Meanwhile, the Dutch government yesterday outlined the priorities for its six-month EU presidency next month, identifying a decision on starting membership negotiations with Turkey and the EU's next seven-year budget plan as key issues.
Speaking in Brussels yesterday, the Dutch Foreign Minister, Mr Bernard Bot, said the presidency came against the backdrop of a disappointing turnout in the European elections.
"European integration relies on the support of the general public. We must explore new ways of communicating Europe in order to keep the public on board," he said.
The European Affairs Minister, Mr Atzo Nicolai, said the Dutch presidency would follow up an Irish initiative by organising a conference to discuss better ways of communicating the EU to citizens and to help governments to prepare for referendums on the treaty.
Mr Bot praised the work of the Irish presidency in securing agreement on the treaty and expressed confidence that a successor to Mr Romano Prodi as Commission president would be agreed before the Netherlands takes over the presidency.
"I would very much like to compliment and thank the Irish presidency for its determination and brinkmanship in accomplishing these monumental tasks. It has provided the first illustration that 25 member-states can work together successfully on important issues such as the constitutional treaty. The Irish deserve great credit for that," he said.