Lithuanian green light for EU Constitution

Lithuania, one of the most recent entrants to the EU bloc has become the first country to back the new European Constitution.

In a parliamentary vote on Thursday, MPs gave their thumbs up to the text, signed just three weeks ago in Rome, with 84 votes in favour, four against and three abstentions.

A spokesman for the European Commission welcomed the ratification. “We congratulate them wholeheartedly…it is a very positive development indeed.”

All other 24 EU countries have to approve the treaty either by parliamentary vote or referendum before the constitution can come into effect.

A ‘no’ vote from just one member state would de-rail the ratification process.

Spain is set to vote on the text – via referendum -in February next year, followed by Portugal in April, Luxembourg in July and then the Netherlands.

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