EU parliament endorses new EU Constitution

EU parliament overwhelmingly endorsed the EU constitution but it will only come into force if all EU member states ratify it, after a referendum in some cases.

The EU parliament voted 500 to 137 for a resolution backing the constitutional treaty, with 40 abstentions. This vote was part of the lengthy ratification process expected to last up to two years.



Two countries, Lithuania and Hungary, have already ratified the treaty by parliamentary vote so far. But its fate will be sealed in referendums in countries including France, the Netherlands, Britain, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Poland, where approval is far from certain.



A minority of a few dozen right-wing and nationalist lawmakers jeered and waved banners proclaiming "Not in my name."



All the mainstream parties in 732-member parliament supported the text, which will boost the EU assembly's powers, create a long-term president of the European Council of EU leaders and an EU foreign minister and streamline decision-making.

di-ve.com