THE DAY IN POLITICS / (eu) eu/ep/constitution

Dominque Perben says French referendum may be held before 1 July - Markus Ferber says CSU will campaign for a yes vote and expects yes vote from the Bundestag and Bundesrat in the first six months of 2005

Brussels, 04/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - At a meeting of his cabinet on Monday, President Chirac of France has urged his ministers to show unfailing commitment in the campaign leading up to the referendum on the European Constitution. Justice minister Dominque Perben unveiled to the cabinet the new draft legislation adapting the French Constitution so that the EU's Constitutional Treaty can be ratified (see yesterday's Europe, p.4). After the French National Assembly has examined the draft law...