Hungary 2nd EU member to ratify new constitution

The parliament in the enthusiastic central European member state of 10 million people, which joined the EU in May, ratified the treaty by 322 votes to 12, with eight abstentions.

"There was practically no debate in Hungary about EU accession and the EU constitution ... so it was no surprise that Hungary could approve it so fast and with such a large majority," government spokeswoman Boglar Laszlo told Reuters.

The charter creates a long-term president of the European Council of national leaders and an EU foreign minister, gives more powers to the European Parliament, and streamlines majority decision-making on most issues.

Latvia is likely to be next to endorse it in a parliamentary vote in January, but the constitution faces stiffer tests in up to 10 countries which are planning or contemplating referendums, including Eurosceptical Britain and Denmark.

Laszlo said the inclusion in the constitution of a reference to the protection of minority rights, at Budapest's request, made the text consensual in Hungary.

"We regard it as a Hungarian achievement that a reference to minority rights was included in the text of the constitution ... This played a role," Laszlo said.

The new constitution is due to take effect on Nov 1, 2006, if all member states ratify it.

Source: Reuters