Paris / Dublin, 05/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - In the afternoon of 5 June, the French National Assembly began its debate on the ratification of the Treaty of Nice, on which it is to vote on 12 June. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine declared on Radio France Inter: "We have a treaty that can really allow us to broach the issue of the future of the problem of Europe. There wopuld be no debate on the future of Europe had we not succeeded in Nice to settle problems that were in suspense. Reason demands that the Treaty be ratified".
In addition, on 7 June, the Irish will vote on the Treaty through a referendum. According to the results of a poll published in the Irish Times, only 45% of the Irish would vote "yes" and 28% "no", whereas a quarter are still undecided. On 19 May, according to another poll, 52% of those questioned said they were in favour of the Treaty, for which Ireland is the only country to organise a referendum.