Brussels, 22/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - Ireland does not consider that the European Constitution is dead but it will not take any initiative aimed at ratifying the constitutional treaty until Member States have take a final decision on the fate of the text rejected by the French and Dutch in 2005, the Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahern, announced on Thursday. Last week, the European Council had decided to extend the reflection period and agreed that the German EU Presidency, in the first half of 2007, would present a report on the basis of which a final solution to the constitutional issue of the EU should be taken “by the second half of 2008 at the latest” (see EUROPE 9213, p. 3). In the meantime, Mr Ahern said, a referendum will not be organised in Ireland as, he asked, how can the government call on the people to vote on a European treaty whose final form and context remain open? The Irish prime minister nonetheless said he remained convinced that the constitutional treaty would be essential for the future success of the enlarged EU.