18/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - The government of the Netherlands decided on Friday 14 September to postpone until 21 September its decision on whether or not to hold a referendum on the new amending EU Treaty (see EUROPE 9502). The Dutch Council of State considers that the draft treaty does not contain any constitutional elements that require a referendum in the Netherlands but the government under Jan Peter Balkenende seems divided over the matter. While the prime minister's Christian Democrats (CDA) want to follow the (non-binding) opinion of the Council of State, some members of the Labour Party (PvdA), which is the second political force and a member of the governmental coalition, are calling for a referendum. (hb)