Content Section

The Content section will provide news, quotes and background materials refering to the topic of the EU Constitution. The time-table will give you an overview about the current status concerning the referendums on the Constitution.

 

Dutch PM threatens 'no' to EU constitution will harm Netherlands reputation


Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told Dutch commercial RTL-news that a Dutch 'no' vote in the June 1 referendum on a European Union constitution will harm the "reputation of the Netherlands internationally".

"It is clear to me that the Netherlands has nothing to gain from a 'no' vote. It will be Balkenende would not speculate about the effect a French 'no' vote would have on the Dutch referendum.

Despite the polls showing Dutch voters leaning towards a 'no' vote, Balkenende said he remained optimistic and was convinced that "an open, honest debate" about the constitution, as he hopes to have in the coming weeks, would lead to more support for it.

Source: EU business