EU constitution compatible with Spain: court

13 December 2004

MADRID- A top Spanish court has ruled that the proposed EU constitution and its existing Spanish counterpart were compatible and that there was therefore no need to reform the latter before the EU-wide blueprint takes effect.

Spain’s Constitutional Court, which rules on constitutional issues, said nine of its 12 members had ruled adoption of the EU text did not require amendments to the Spanish version enacted in 1978 on the return to democracy after the 1975 death of military dictator General Franco.

Spaniards will vote on the constitutional text on February 20 and opinion polls suggest they will vote in favour, which would make Spain the first country to approve the document by referendum.

Spain’s Socialist government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is currently mulling constitutional reform, in particular with regard to the level of autonomy enjoyed by the country’s 17 autonomous regions.

But Wednesday’s ruling gives the green light to passage of the EU text assuming a yes vote.

Last month, Lithuania became the first country in the 25-member bloc to
ratify the EU constitution, following a parliamentary vote.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news