Schröder: zelfs zonder ratificatie moet Grondwet gaan gelden (en)

The EU needs to find a way of introducing the Constitution even if it is not ratified by all member states, said German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder over the weekend.

In an interview with Focus magazine, Mr Schröder said, "we ought to find an arrangement by which the Constitution can still come into force if the process of ratification in a country has not yet been brought to a conclusion".

The German Chancellor made it clear last week that Germany would not be holding a referendum on whether to ratify Europe's Constitutional Treaty. Currently, referendums at federal level are illegal in Germany for historical reasons.

However, a new poll published recently showed that a large majority of Germans are in favour of a referendum.

According to a poll of 1000 voters by the forsa institute, 69 percent want a vote, compared to 25 percent against.

The announcement of British prime minister Tony Blair that the traditionally eurosceptic UK would be holding a vote has raised the spectre that one or more countries could reject the treaty.

In addition to the UK, Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic have all said they will have a referendum.

And pressure is mounting on France to hold a vote as well.

As it stands, the Constitutional Treaty needs to be ratified by all member states before it can come into force.