The Hague says constitution is 'dead'

The Dutch foreign minister Bernard Bot has said the EU constitution is "dead" for the Netherlands, rejecting EU leaders' recent pleas for a resuscitation of the charter.

After meeting his Austrian counterpart Ursula Plassnik in The Hague, Mr Bot stated on Wednesday (11 January) "we have discussed the constitution, which for the Netherlands is dead," according to press reports.

Austria, which currently holds the EU presidency, aims at a revival of the treaty, with its leader Wolfgang Schussel declaring on Monday "the constitution is not dead. It is in the middle of a ratification process."

But Mr Bot poured cold water over these hopes, reiterating that it is out of the question that the Netherlands will ratify the constitution.

[fonte:EUobserver.com]