: EUROPE'S ZERO HOUR
The European Constitution was signed on 29 October 2004 at a ceremony in Rome, but before it can come into force it must be ratified by all 25 EU member states, either through a referendum or by parliamentary vote.
REFERENDUM TIMETABLE
Spain: 20 February
France: 29 May
The Netherlands: 1 June
Luxembourg: 10 July
Denmark: 27 September
Ireland: Late 2005
Portugal: Late 2005
UK: April to June 2006
Czech Republic: June 2006?
Poland: No date set
Use the CLICKEABLE map LINK below to find out how each country is proceeding with ratification, and what issues are most important to voters. Ratification has to take place within two years of the treaty being signed. Nine countries have finished ratifying the treaty: Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. France and most probably Netherlands have and will have voted NO by Wednesday.
Here below a map and link by BBC online describing where Europe is at in terms of EU treaty acceptance ( or refusal ) schedule.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3954327.stm
(see details by clicking this link - and click country by country)
