Oostenrijk keurt Europese Grondwet goed (en)

Austria on Wednesday became the eighth EU country to ratify the constitution after members of the upper house voted overwhelmingly in favour of the document.

Fifty-nine voted in favour while three, from the far-right, voted against.

The other countries to have ratified the constitution are Hungary, Lithuania, Greece, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia and Italy.

All 25 member states have to ratify the document before it comes into force - it will face its biggest test so far in the next few days when France and the Netherlands hold their referenda.