Luxembourg votes yes on EU constitution

LUXEMBOURG Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker insisted yesterday that the European Union’s proposed constitution can still be adopted after Luxembourg voted in favour of the charter in a referendum.

"If Luxembourg had said No, the constitution would have been dead. As Luxembourg has said Yes, the process can go ahead," Mr Juncker said. "There is a way for the European constitution to be adopted.

"If Luxembourg had said No, Europe would have been in an ultra-serious crisis. Now that Luxembourg has voted Yes, Europe is still in crisis, but there is a silver lining," Juncker added.

Voters in the Grand Duchy home to several EU institutions voted 56.52% in favour of the constitution, in only the second referendum in the nation's history.

He predicted that EU members will all eventually hold a referendum or parliamentary vote, despite the ratification process being frozen after the recent French and Dutch No votes.

"We will see the positions of the countries that said 'no' at the end of the ratification period," said Juncker.