French referendum on EU Constitution may take place in May

France may decide to hold a referendum on the EU
Constitution in May as opposed to late 2005 as previously
planned. The government wants to clearly separate this debate from
the one on Turkey’s EU entry.

France’s initial plans to hold a referendum on the EU
Constitution in the second half of 2005 may have to be revised due
to growing public opposition to Turkish EU membership.

Advisors close to French President Jacques Chirac
recommend that the date of the referendum on the EU
Constitution be brought forward in order not to endanger an
affirmative vote on the new treaty. As a possible
date, 8 May, a date symbolising the end of world war II, has
been named.

Recent opinion polls have shown the French
public largely in favour of the new treaty, whereas three out
of four would currently vote against Turkish entry into the
EU. 

Chirac has been in favour of Turkish membership while
his centre-right UMP party has been divided on the issue. The
French socialists are split both on the EU Constitution and
the issue of Turkish EU membership. They are expected to agree
on a party position in December.

The ratification process will begin after the treaty on the
EU Constitution has been signed by the Member States on
29 October. A decision on whether to open accession negotiations
with Turkey will be made by the European Council on 17
December.

Read more with Euractiv

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