Spain will hold a referendum in February on the new European Union constitution, it was confirmed today.
Political sources said that the government of Prime Minister Mr Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero had consulted with opposition parties and agreed to ask voters: "Do you approve the treaty instituting a constitution for the European Union?"
The 25 European Union countries whose leaders signed the new charter in June now have two years to approve it, either through a referendum or parliamentary vote.
Mr Zapatero told Parliament in June that "Spain would be one of the first countries in the EU to ratify the constitution".
But the referendum date was delayed to February due to technical problems, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Both the governing Socialist Party and the main opposition Popular Party have urged their supporters to vote yes in the referendum.
Other European countries have said they will hold referendums, including France, Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium.