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European Union (EU) leaders said on Sunday night that the ratification of the European Constitution should continue in other EU member states despite the French no hours ago.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, holder of the rotating EU presidency, told a joint press conference at the EU headquarters that EU leaders would review the situation at the June summit.
"The European process does not come to a halt today," said Juncker, adding that it would be impossible to renegotiate the treaty.
He was echoed by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who said the procedure have been completed in nine countries representing almost 49 percent of the EU population.
"The Commission thinks this is a very important reason why the ratification procedures should go forward," Barroso said.
That would mean referendums in countries including the Netherlands, Britain, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland and Poland should go ahead as planned.
However, diplomats expected second no vote from Dutch on June 1.
The constitution was finalized last year after long and difficult negotiations among EU governments. The treaty includes the union's Charter of Fundamental Rights and establishes a EU president and EU foreign minister.
EU Member states can ratify the document through a referendum or by parliamentary vote. Germany ratified it on Friday.
The constitution envisages that the ratification process would continue until November 2006. There would then be a special summit due on June 16-17 to discuss what to do if 20 of the 25 members had approved the treaty but "one or more member states have encountered difficulties".
(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2005)
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