Finse premier start discussie over organisatie referendum EU-Grondwet (en)

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has promised to call a joint meeting of the government and the opposition parties over the summer to discuss the possible holding of a referendum on the planned Constitution for the European Union, reports Helsingin Sanomat.

But speaking in a debate on Tuesday (8 June) Mr Vanhanen said: "If the basic character of the EU does not change, no referendum will be needed".

While the Left Alliance chairwoman Suvi-Anne Siimes said that she would welcome government-led discussions on a referendum, the new chairman of the opposition National Coalition Party, Jyrki Katainen, said that a referendum would not be necessary if the final draft is similar to the present one.