Cyprus approves EU charter

Cyprus yesterday endorsed a European Constitution that has appeared in danger of abandonment since being rejected by European Union (EU) founder nations France and the Netherlands.

Cyprus's Parliament approved the charter, intended to improve management of the bloc following expansion to 25 members last year, by a comfortable majority with a show of hands.

Cyprus's ratification could please some European Union partners, but it meant little in practical terms with the process in limbo elsewhere following the charter's referendum defeats a month ago, said analyst James Ker-Lindsay.

"Some quarters in Europe might be pleased Cyprus has done this, that the ratification process is going ahead anyway, but it won't really make a difference... if anything, it will keep Cyprus in the good books," Mr Ker-Lindsay said.

The next country set to decide on the Constitution is Luxembourg in a referendum on July 10.