Greek Parliament ratifies EU Constitution

Greece yesterday became the sixth European Union member to approve the EU Constitution when its Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour.

Both the ruling conservatives and the opposition socialists backed the treaty which was ratified with 268 votes in favour and 17 against. Fifteen deputies abstained.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso had urged Greece ahead of the vote to send a strong signal of support for the treaty ahead of a referendum on it in France in May.

"There will be a clear signal coming from the Greeks for the rest of the continent," Mr Barroso said in Athens on Monday. "The Greek citizens have shown their commitment to European integration."

Greece had said it wanted to be among the first nations to ratify the treaty, aimed at streamlining the bloc which last year introduced 10 new members.

"The bill of ratification has been accepted by the body of the Parliament," Deputy Parliament speaker Stelios Hatzigakis said, as Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis looked on.

Two small left-wing parties voted against it, apart from one deputy.

Despite calls from all opposition parties, the Greek government refused to hold a referendum, saying there was no need because of the overwhelming parliamentary majority in favour of the treaty.

Polls show EU founder member France could vote against the Constitution in its May 29 referendum, triggering a political crisis in the bloc.

Polls in the Netherlands, scheduled to hold a referendum three days later, also show a majority of voters saying "No".

Both countries said yesterday there was no back-up plan to save the treaty if it was rejected by their citizens.