17 June 2005, 11:14  EU Summit Luxembourg parliament to decide on constitution vote set for July

Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said Thursday it is up to his country's parliament to decide if a vote on the EU's crisis-torn constitution goes ahead next month. Juncker said the assembly had approved July 10 for a referendum and that "in light of the debate at the European Council (the parliament) must decide whether or not a longer period of dialogue is appropriate in the case of Luxembourg." In his role as holder of the EU's rotating presidency, Juncker announced that the bloc's leaders had decided to extend a deadline for ratifying the charter, after its crushing rejection by French and Dutch voters. Luxembourg is to hand over the EU presidency to Britain on July 1. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the second smallest country in the 25-nation bloc and one of its six founder states, is the next due to hold a referendum after the May 29 and June 1 French and Dutch ballots. But recent opinion polls have indicated falling support for a "yes" vote among Luxembourgers, and Juncker has pledged to resign if the vote goes against him.

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