Dutch voters have overwhelmingly rejected the EU constitution but the leaders of the EU's three main institutions said last night that other member states must continue to ratify the treaty.
The constitution was rejected with 62 per cent voting No, based on a turnout of 63 per cent of voters. The size of the No victory and the level of voter participation were both higher than predicted.
Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende promised to respect the No vote, although the referendum was not binding on parliament.
"Dutch voters have given a clear signal. It is obvious that we will respect this outcome completely," he said.
He insisted, however, that other countries should continue to try to ratify the constitution and decide how to proceed after all member states have had their say. "We have to know where each country stands in respect of the constitution."
Within minutes of the Dutch polls closing, the presidents of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council, where EU leaders meet, told a joint press conference the ratification process must go on.
Luxembourg's prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country holds the EU presidency, said he respected the Dutch vote but insisted the constitution should be debated in all EU countries.
"We want the other member states to have the opportunity to tackle the same debate. We feel the ratification process should continue," he said.
The Dutch and French No votes are expected to dominate the Taoiseach's talks today with Mr Juncker in Luxembourg and with German chancellor Gerhard Schröder in Berlin.
After two No votes in EU founding member states within three days, some EU leaders, led by Britain's Tony Blair, believe the process of ratifying the constitution should be halted.
The Czech Republic yesterday became the first EU country to call for a postponement of the ratification process beyond the deadline of November 2006. Czech prime minister Jiri Paroubek, whose country plans to hold a referendum, said his coalition government had given him a mandate to ask for an extension at this month's EU summit.
"We feel countries need more time for ratification. It wouldn't be the first time in the EU's history for this," he said.
The crisis over the constitution dominated yesterday's meeting of the European Commission during which most commissioners said all member states should have their say on the treaty.
Commission president José Manuel Barroso urged EU leaders not to take "unilateral decisions" to stop the ratification process before they meet in Brussels on June 16th.
Latvia is expected to ratify the constitution in a parliamentary vote today, bringing to 10 the number of states that have approved it.
Right-wing populist Geert Wilders, one of the most prominent figures in the Dutch No campaign, was jubilant as the result came in.
"The people of the Netherlands have voted and they must be taken seriously . . . They don't want a federal Europe," he said.
Mr Schröder expressed regret and warned against allowing the treaty's problems to become a "general crisis" for Europe.
He called for a restatement of commitment to the "aims and principles" of European unification.
British foreign secretary Jack Straw said the Dutch rejection raised profound questions for the EU and that the results should be respected. He did not say whether Britain still planned to hold a referendum.
