French may vote on EU treaty

France may join Ireland and Denmark in holding a referendum on the EU's Amsterdam Treaty following a controversial decision this week by the country's Constitutional Council. A referendum in France, which only approved Maastricht by the narrowest of 2 per cent margins, could inject a wild card into a ratification process already complicated by serious Danish Euroscepticism. The council ruled on Wednesday that parts of the treaty dealing with cross-border traffic, and visa and asylum policy conflict with France's Constitution. The result is that President Jacques Chirac must now decide whether the amendments should be approved by the two chambers of parliament, or if the matter should be put to a referendum.

Although Mr Chirac backs the treaty, his party contains many Eurosceptical elements pressing for a poll, while the Socialist government's coalition partners, the Communist Party, also want a referendum.

The Communist leader, Mr Robert Hue, said yesterday he favoured a referendum on the treaty and that he was asking for a meeting with Mr Chirac. "In France, national sovereignty comes from the people," he said. The Communists plan a rally on January 18th to press their demand.

The European Affairs Minister, Mr Pierre Moscovici, yesterday insisted on RTL radio that the President and the Prime Minister, Mr Jospin, would consult closely to make a joint decision on how to proceed.

Ireland and Denmark are currently the only countries which will ratify the treaty by referendum. Portugal is also having a non-binding poll.