The European Parliament overwhelmingly endorsed the European Union's first constitution today but the treaty will only come into force if all 25 member states ratify it, several by referendums.
The EU legislature voted 500 to 137 for a resolution backing the constitutional treaty, with 40 abstentions, part of the lengthy ratification process expected to last up to two years.
Two countries, Lithuania and Hungary, have ratified the treaty by parliamentary vote so far. But its fate will be sealed in referendums in countries including Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Britain, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Poland, where approval is far from certain.
"The result of the vote leaves no room for doubt about the support that this European Parliament has expressed for the constitution," parliament President Josep Borrell said after most members hailed the result with a standing ovation.
A minority of a few dozen right-wing and nationalist lawmakers jeered and waved banners proclaiming "Not in my name".
The constitution, initially drafted by a Convention of EU and national lawmakers headed by former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing and agreed by EU leaders last June after long haggling over voting power, is designed to ensure the bloc can function efficiently after 10 new members joined last year.
All the mainsteam parties in 732-member parliament supported the text, which will boost the EU assembly's powers, create a long-term president of the European Council of EU leaders and an EU foreign minister and streamline decision-making.
But the far left rejected it as a global capitalist charter without adequate social protection, while the far right and nationalists attacked it as a blueprint for a European "superstate" that would give too much power to Brussels.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who has just taken over the rotating EU presidency for six months, expressed joy at the very broad parliamentary majority.
"This is an important moment in the history of parliament and it's an important moment on the road to Europe and towards the ratification of this constitution," he told the house.