France to have EU poll 'before summer'

French president Jacques Chirac has said that France will have a referendum on the European Constitution before the summer.

"I have decided that the European Constitution will be submitted to you by referendum before the summer", said Mr Chirac in a televised New Year's address.

However, President Chirac has expressed concern in the past that the issue becomes entangled with the EU's decision to open membership negotiations with Turkey in October 2005.

The French public is largely sceptical about Turkish EU membership.

In order for the Constitution to come into force, all 25 member states must ratify it - either by referendum or via the national parliament.

So far, Lithuania and Hungary have ratified the text, while Spain is set to be the first to have a referendum, on 20 February.

Source: EU Observer