LUXEMBOURG: Luxembourg has voted clearly in favour of the EU constitution, averting a resignation threat from its prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker.
The Grand Duchy voted by 56.52 per cent to 43.48 per cent in favour of the constitution, which is clinging to political life after rejection by French and Dutch voters.
Mr Juncker, who has been prime minister for 11 years and chairs the Eurogroup of euro-zone finance ministers, said he would resign if Luxembourg voted No.
Yesterday's vote brings to 13 the number of member states that have approved the constitution, a majority within the 25-state EU - although only two have done so by referendum.
Britain, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland and Portugal postponed their referendums after the French and Dutch No votes. The Government had not set a date for Ireland's referendum before France and the Netherlands said No but there is no sign of an imminent vote.
MEPs welcomed Luxembourg's vote as evidence that the constitution was alive and retained a chance of coming into force.
Wilfried Martens, president of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) praised Mr Juncker's role in securing yesterday's Yes vote.
"The majority of the European citizens want a strong Europe with more security, freedom and prosperity. This should encourage EU leaders to find ways to move forward. Prime Minister Junker has, once again, proven to be a strong pillar of the EPP and of the European Union as a whole," he said.
Martin Schulz, the leader of Socialist MEPs, said the vote gave new hope to the process of ratifying the constitution.
"We now have a majority of member states supporting the constitution. Ratification in a small but very important member state of the European Union is encouraging and makes us fight to go on with the ratification process. The people of Luxembourg have taken a responsible position and returned to their historical leading role in European integration," he said.
The second smallest EU member state, Luxembourg has long been the most enthusiastic about European integration. The Grand Duchy, which has a population of 465,000 but only 223,000 citizens with voting rights, has the highest per capita GDP in the EU.
Despite its prosperity, Luxembourg's jobless rate has doubled to 5 per cent in recent years and some of its citizens fear that economic globalisation could undermine their pensions and social benefits.
Mr Juncker is a hugely popular leader but some voters perceived his promise to resign in the event of a No vote as a form of blackmail, which they resented.
Yesterday's vote was clear enough to secure Mr Juncker's position but it may not be enough to save the constitution, which was negotiated in a convention of elected representatives for two years and later in an inter-governmental conference of national governments.
Last month, EU leaders agreed to lift the November 2006 deadline for ratifying the constitution, calling for a period of reflection and debate.
British prime minister Tony Blair, whose country holds the EU's six-month presidency, has called a special summit for this autumn to consider the future of the European social model.
The Government insists its intention is to ratify the constitution by referendum and it will publish a White Paper on Europe's future in September.
