03/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 2 July, Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (SPÖ) defended his intention to submit any future amendments of the EU Treaty to a referendum in Austria (the Lisbon Treaty, which has already been ratified by Parliament, is not affected). “We have only 28% support in Austria in favour of the EU. One third of the population is fiercely opposed to the Union. Between the two, there are the sceptics. If we do not deal with the sceptics, there will soon be 50% or more tough opponents to the EU”, Mr Gusenbauer explains in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” of 3 July. Imposing referendums is “one of the few ways to make any political class explain itself to the population”, he said. Croatia's accession is not concerned, although the act of accession will require modification of the treaty. Mr Gusenbauer explains that the referendum would be compulsory only for changes to the treaty that “affect the interests of Austria” as do the treaties of Nice and Lisbon. The ÖVP, SPÖ's partner in the major coalition, is opposed to the chancellor's initiative and accuses him of populism. (H.B./transl.jl)