Clearday-TRForce
05-12-2005, 10:26 AM
VIENNA - *******
Austria's lower house of parliament approved the European Union constitution almost unanimously on Wednesday after the government dismissed last-minute calls for a referendum.
Unlike France, which is holding a strongly contested referendum on the treaty on May 29, Austria has seen little heated political debate over the document designed to simplify decision-making in the expanded Union.
Far-right firebrand Joerg Haider called this week for a referendum to be held on the treaty, a move dismissed as populist by his political opponents.
All Austria's main political parties, including Haider's, are in favor of the constitution. Only one lawmaker voted against the constitution. All others present voted in favor but there was no vote count.
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel has repeatedly said he would only support a single referendum throughout the Union, which admitted 10 new members last May, its largest ever expansion.
"I have always warned against a patchwork, that is nine individual countries, individual referendums spread over almost two years," he told the lower house, or Nationalrat.
Individual referendums discouraged officials from making controversial proposals within the EU for fear of undermining support for the constitution in a national vote, Schuessel said, adding that the idea of a single vote lacked EU-wide support.
Austria's upper house must also approve the constitution to complete ratification, which it is expected to do on May 25.
The text must be approved by all 25 EU member states to come into effect. Six countries had approved the constitution so far: Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain, Italy and Greece.
Austria's neighbor Slovakia was set to ratify the constitution in parliament later on Wednesday. Belgium and Germany are due to decide later this month. The Netherlands will hold a referendum on June 1.
regards.
Austria's lower house of parliament approved the European Union constitution almost unanimously on Wednesday after the government dismissed last-minute calls for a referendum.
Unlike France, which is holding a strongly contested referendum on the treaty on May 29, Austria has seen little heated political debate over the document designed to simplify decision-making in the expanded Union.
Far-right firebrand Joerg Haider called this week for a referendum to be held on the treaty, a move dismissed as populist by his political opponents.
All Austria's main political parties, including Haider's, are in favor of the constitution. Only one lawmaker voted against the constitution. All others present voted in favor but there was no vote count.
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel has repeatedly said he would only support a single referendum throughout the Union, which admitted 10 new members last May, its largest ever expansion.
"I have always warned against a patchwork, that is nine individual countries, individual referendums spread over almost two years," he told the lower house, or Nationalrat.
Individual referendums discouraged officials from making controversial proposals within the EU for fear of undermining support for the constitution in a national vote, Schuessel said, adding that the idea of a single vote lacked EU-wide support.
Austria's upper house must also approve the constitution to complete ratification, which it is expected to do on May 25.
The text must be approved by all 25 EU member states to come into effect. Six countries had approved the constitution so far: Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain, Italy and Greece.
Austria's neighbor Slovakia was set to ratify the constitution in parliament later on Wednesday. Belgium and Germany are due to decide later this month. The Netherlands will hold a referendum on June 1.
regards.