EUROPE: Support for the "concept" of a European constitution is on the rise - even in France and the Netherlands, where "no" votes last year threw the EU into crisis.
The latest polling figures show that the concept of a constitution is gaining support, strengthening the case of those who argue that last year's referendum setbacks for the project were driven by French and Dutch voters using referendums to deliver a thumbs-down on other issues.
A Eurobarometer survey conducted by TNS Opinion & Social for the European Commission has found that 63 per cent of European citizens support "the concept of a constitution for the European Union" - a 2 per cent increase compared with last June. A constitution is opposed by 21 per cent.
Some 56 per cent of Irish citizens back the idea.
The survey of almost 30,000 people across the 25 member states reveals the state of play in November 2005. It shows a 9 per cent increase - to 62 per cent - in French support for the idea of a constitution, with Dutch backing up seven points to 67 per cent. Support in the UK for the concept of a constitution stands at 46 per cent. This compares with 70 per cent in Italy and 74 per cent in Germany.
People in France (65 per cent) and the Netherlands (64 per cent) are most likely to hold the view that the European constitution should be renegotiated, twice the level recorded in Ireland (32 per cent).