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Referenda on the EU Constitution - timetable
From the moment of signing the European Constitution in Rome on 29 October 2004, the clock to ratification began to tick. According to the provisions in the Constitution, the member states have exactly 2 years to ratify it in order for it to come into force. Several countries have explicitly made a commitment to hold a referendum on the matter; several have said that the Constitution will be subject to parliamentary ratification; the rest lie somewhere in the middle, with no clear decision having been made.
Following is the list of all the countries and the relevant ratification procedure that will most probably apply to the ratification of the European Constitution.
Austria
On 25 May 2005 Austria became the eighth country to ratify the European Union constitution treaty, with members of the upper house of parliament voting overwhelmingly in favour. No referendum is to be held.
Belgium
The option of having a referendum is still on the table. Decision should be made in early 2005.
Cyprus
Cyprus ratified the constitution on 30 June 2005. No referendum is to be held.
Czech Republic
Ratification will be subject to a referendum. It will most probably take place in June 2006.
Denmark
Ratification will be subject to a referendum taking place on 27 September 2005.
Estonia
Ratification will be considered by Parliament. No referendum to be held.
Finland
Ratification will be considered by Parliament. No referendum to be held.
France
Ratification will be subject to a referendum. The most probable date of the referendum is June 2005.
Germany
The constitution received the rubber-stamp from the Bundesrat upper house on May 27. Germany is not putting the constitution to a popular vote.
Greece
The Greek parliament on 19 April 2005 ratified the Constitution by 268 votes to 17. No referendum is to be held.
Hungary
Hungary has already ratified the Constitution on 20 December 2004 through the parliament.
Ireland
Ratification will be subject to a referendum.
Italy
Italy ratified the constitution on 6 April 2005, becoming the first large EU country to do so. No referendum to be held.
Latvia
Latvia's Parliament ratified the Treaty on 2 June 2005. There is no referendum.
Lithuania
The parliamentary ratification was held on 11 November 2004, the Constitution has been ratified by an overwhelming majority in the Seimas (Lithuania's parliament).
Luxembourg
Ratification will be subject to a referendum foreseen on 10 July 2005.
Malta
The Maltese parliament ratified the Constitution on 7 July 2005. No referendum is to be held.
The Netherlands
Ratification will be subject to a referendum.
Poland
Ratification will be subject to a referendum.
Portugal
Ratification will be subject to a referendum. Portugal's incoming Socialist government said on 10 March 2005 that it is eying a date in 2006.
Slovakia
The Slovak parliament voted on 11 May 2005 to ratify the EU constitution treaty. On 14 July, the Slovak constitutional court suspended the ratification.
Slovenia
The Slovenian parliament ratified the Constitution on 1 February 2005, making Slovenia the third EU country to ratify.
Spain
77 per cent of Spaniards approved the European constitution at a referendum on 20 February 2005, despite a 58 per cent turnout. Spain ratified the constitution on 18 May 2005.
Sweden
Ratification will be considered by Parliament (Riksday). No referendum to be held.
United Kingdom
Ratification will be subject to a referendum. The most probable date is June 2006.
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