Duits parlement zet eerste stap in aanvaarding Europese Grondwet (en)

The EU's most populous member state has started the process of ratifying the European Constitution.

According to the Bloomberg news agency, the upper house of the German parliament on Friday (18 February) began the process of ratifying the treaty.

"The Constitution is a historic step in the European integration process, a logical step after the expansion of the EU", Bloomberg quotes German foreign minister Joschka Fischer as saying.

"The government is aiming for swift ratification to give a signal to all of Europe".

The German government aims to complete the ratificaton process by the end of June, which, according to some press reports, will be timed to coincide with the French referendum on the Constitution.

FT Deutschland recently reported that Berlin intends to ratify the Treaty just before France votes on the issue, in a bid to build momentum towards what could be a difficult vote for the French government.

But, with the French government musing an early referendum as early as mid-May, the Germans may be too late.

All 25 member states must ratify the Treaty before it can come into force.

The Constitution introduces a foreign minister; a permanent chair of the European Council; more majority voting in justice and home affairs and significantly more power to the European Parliament.