French parliament to debate EU future

France’s lower house of parliament plans a debate today on the future of the European Union and the EU constitution, two weeks after French voters shook the 25-member bloc by rejecting the charter.

Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin will open the debate at the National Assembly with a 10-minute address before turning the floor over to four other speakers.

De Villepin said yesterday he also wanted the debate to focus on the future of EU institutions and the pursuit of enlargement.

France’s “no” vote on the constitution May 29 was folloed by a resounding rejection in the Netherlands days later. The referendums have triggered a crisis of confidence in the EU.