Finse socialisten tegen referendum (en)

The Finnish Social Democratic Party (SDP) has announced that it is not in favour of a referendum on the European Constitution, which makes it very unlikely that the Nordic country will follow the ten other member states who have already decided to hold a referendum.

The SDP, however, is calling for a public debate on the Constitution, before the Finnish Parliament votes on it.

"There is no point in holding a referendum only as a sign of support for a chosen policy or to raise the level of consciousness of the people", a party statement reads, according to STT.

Some SDP members had earlier expressed the need for a referendum, but they did not gain enough support among their party members.

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has invited representatives of the Finnish parliamentary parties to discuss the European Constitution and the way it will be processed in Finland. The meeting will be held in the Prime Minister's Official Residence Villa Bjälbo, on Friday, 3 September.

"Among other issues, various views on the need for a consultative referendum will be reviewed", the prime minister's office announced.

Earlier this month Mr Vanhanen ruled out the need for a referendum, by saying that the EU would not change so much under the new Constitution that a referendum would be needed.

The European Constitution will be signed on 29 October at a ceremony in Rome and must be ratified by all 25 EU member states, by referendum or by vote in the national parliaments.

Ten countries - Denmark, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal and the UK - have already said they will hold a referendum.