Austria ratifies EU constitution

Austria's Chancellor Wolfgang Schuesser backed the constitution

Austria has become the latest member of the European Union to ratify the text of the European constitution.

The upper house of parliament backed the treaty two weeks after the lower house gave its unanimous support.

Only three far-right members of the upper house voted against, allowing Austria to become the eighth country to ratify the constitution.

France's position will be decided by a public referendum on Sunday - with opinion polls suggesting a No vote.

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The EU constitution

The Austrian government rejected calls by Joerg Haider, leader of a minority bloc in Austria's government, for a referendum on the text.

The ruling People's Party says the constitution will give small nations like Austria greater influence within the EU.

However, if just one of the EU 25 member states rejects the treaty, this could prevent it coming into force.

FINISHED RATIFICATION Austria Greece Hungary Italy Lithuania Slovakia Slovenia Spain

The latest opinion polls in France and the Netherlands suggest that the result of referendums due on 29 May and 1 June are balanced on a knife-edge.

The German, Belgian, Estonian and Latvian parliaments are expected to ratify the constitution in May.

The Belgian Senate has already approved the constitution, but the lower house of parliament, and the regional parliaments, must also hold votes.