Spain’s EU Constitution campaign underway

Spain is to become the first country to ask its
people to approve the EU Constitution – on 20
February. A poll suggests that more than half the voters are
still undecided.

Although the official starting date for a campaing for
‘yes’ vote on the EU Constitution in Spain is the 13
January, a website run by Spain’s Foreign Ministry is already
up and running. It proudly announces that the Spanish will be the
first people to have a chance to vote on the Treaty. “Los
Primeros Con Europa” is the slogan selected to accompany the
campaign whose implicit objective is to secure a ‘yes’ vote in the
referendum on 20 February. 

It remains to be seen whether the Spanish government will be
able to close the information gap during the 44
days remaining before the non-binding vote.  A recent
opinion poll conducted by the Spanish Instituto Opina
for El País indicates that more than half of
the voting population is as yet undecided (see
also EURACTIV 21 December 2004)

Neighbouring France is still debating the date for its own
national referendum. Two new possible dates in June have been
floated. This brings the total to three options
now – 8 May, 5 June or 12 June. In his new year
speech, President Jacques Chirac would only confirm that the
vote would take place before the summer. Chirac reminded the French
that the Constitution would enable Europe to be “more
democratic, more pro-active, more powerful” and would allow
France to have more clout in the EU.

Two countries have already ratified the new EU treaty through
parliament: Lithuania in November and Hungary in December.

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