Countries
Belgium
Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt conceded defeat Sunday on behalf of his coalition of Liberals and Socialists in general elections that saw the Christian Democrats translating eight years in opposition into major gains. "The voters of our country today elected a new government and the results of these elections are clear: the voter opted for a different majority," Verhofstadt said.
Local elections in Belgium have indicated a strong show of support for the separatist anti-immigration party in the Dutch-speaking north.
Hopes of a revival of the EU constitution were boosted after the regional parliament of Flanders cleared the last hurdle for Belgium's ratification of the charter, while Estonian MPs also moved closer to ratifying the text...
A bill for ratification was brought to the Senate by the Government. The Government adopted it on 13th April 2005 unanimously. The bill will then be put on the agenda of the Senate during the last week of April.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - French President Jacques Chirac has said he cannot imagine that France will reject the European Constitution in its referendum at the end of May.
Two more EU countries – the Netherlands and Denmark have already defined the dates for conduction referendum on ratification of the EU Constitution.
Country
About country
Country: Belgium
Capital: Brussels
Population: 10,348,276
Head of the State: Monarch, the monarchy is hereditary
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Legislation
Available in English.