European Constitution ratified by Italy

The EUobserver.com in Honor Mahony's article "Italy ratifies European Constitution" reports that Italy has become the first major EU country and the first of the original EU members to ratify the European Constitution in a 217 to 16 vote in its upper house. The lower house voted in favor of the EU Constitution in January.

Four countries (of 25) have now ratified the European Constitution: Hungary, Italy, Lithuania and Slovenia. Spain has approved the EU Constitution in a referendum, which still needs parliamentary approval.

Germany's Bundestag votes on the EU Constitution on May 12.

Once Germany has ratified the EU Constitution, any country which votes against the EU Constitution will be making a significant political and economic blunder, since it will push Germany eastward in the direction of the new EU countries (who will all ratify) and will have a significant negative long-term trade impact on the more western European nations who make the mistake to vote against it.

Opposition to the EU Constitution has been increasing in France, Denmark and the UK, three countries who paradoxically have been profiting from their EU membership. Such opposition is often led by rural and/or reactionary elements having little understanding for modern economic and political necessities.

Obviously, any EU country not adopting the EU Constitution will have a difficult time staying in the EU, since they will have to choose between abiding by EU law or not - and if not - they will soon be on their economic and political own to forge for themselves in an increasingly competitive world in which the larger united groups of nations hold most of the political and economic cards.

We would most certainly not want to be an isolate European country sitting on the outside of the EU in coming years. The law of the economies of scale is simply too strong.
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