EU countries facing referendums

An unprecedented series of referendums, with more than a quarter of a billion people voting on the same issue, has been triggered by today’s signing in Rome of the new European constitution.

According to the Initiative and Referendum Institute think-tank, the current timetable means polling between February next year and June 2006 in seven countries, with four other countries committed to holding referendums but so far with no dates fixed.

The Amsterdam-based IRI said the scale of the same-subject referendums across Europe was an historic first, with public votes – as opposed to constitution ratification through national parliaments – still a possibility in a majority of the 25 member states.

A constitution rejection in one member state would render the first EU Constitution null and void – and no government wants to be the one responsible for kicking it into touch.

As the timetable currently stands, the UK referendum will be held later than referendums in the Netherlands and France, both of which could produce a “No” vote.

The first referendum will take place in Spain on February 20 2004, followed by the decisions of the Portuguese (April 10), the Dutch (March or April), the French (possibly May 8) and Poland (May or October).

UK citizens will get their say on the Constitution much later (early in 2006, probably March), followed by the Czech Republic (June 2006).

Other countries holding referendums, but without dates so far, are Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark. Germany is wavering, while the remaining 13 EU countries are currently relying on constitution ratification through votes in national Parliaments.