Referenda in Nederland en Denemarken gaan door, ook bij eventueel Frans 'non' (en)

Should France turn down the European Constitution in the referendum 29 May, Denmark and the Netherlands would still carry on with their referendums as planned, the foreign ministers of the two countries have said.

Speaking in Copenhagen on Thursday (31 March) Dutch minister for foreign affairs Bernard Bot i said "If France votes no, then other countries must continue the fight for a yes".

The more countries supporting the Constitution, the better chances we have to find a solution, he added, according to Politiken.

The Dutch referendum is scheduled for 1 June, just three days after the French poll, while the Danes are set to vote on 27 September.

Neither the Danish foreign minister Per Stig Moller nor his Dutch counterpart were able to offer a precise indication of what would happen should a country reject the Constitution.

"There is no plan B", said Mr Moller while Mr Bot added:"Nor a plan C or D".

The Dutch minister visited Copenhagen to celebrate 400 years of Danish-Dutch diplomatic relations.

Before winning the Dutch referendum, the Hague government must however tackle a looming crisis.

Members of the left wing junior partner D66 may decide over the weekend to quit the Liberally-led government which could force early general elections.