Denmark urged to hold referendum before UK

A majority of Danish MEPs have strongly urged the Danish
government to hold an early referendum on the Constitution and not
to wait for the British to decide on the issue first.

Prior to the vote on the Constitution in the European Parliament
on 12 January, a majority of Danish MEPs have strongly urged the
liberal Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen to hold the announced
Danish referendum on the Constitution before the one in the UK
scheduled for March 2006. 

Former Danish PM Poul Nyrup Rasussen, now an MEP
and a president of the European Socialists, counters the
argument that Denmark should not run the risk of being the
first country to vote the Constitution down, by saying:
“Everybody can walk in on the tail of others. It is better that
Denmark decides for itself, clearly and independently.” 

After the traditionally eurosceptic Socialist People’s
Party decided to back the Constitution, polls now look favorable.
However, Danish voters have previously voted down the
Maastrict treaty and Denmark’s participation in the euro
in referenda held in 1992 and 2000.   

In a related development, a French poll published on 23 December
2004 showed declining support for the Constitution
among French voters. 53 per cent of voters would vote
yes, 43 per cent no. In September 2004 the figures were at 64 per
cent in favour, 36 per cent against. France is expected to
hold its referendum before the summer 2004.

Read more with Euractiv

'No' campaign calls for fair referendums

The European 'No' campaign is demanding "fair referendums with a balanced debate on the EU Constitution in all 25 EU countries".