NETHERLANDS: The Dutch senate yesterday agreed to hold a referendum on the European Union constitution, making it the second Member State to put the treaty to a vote.
The poll could be held as early as May and will follow in the footsteps of Spain, which votes on the Constitution on February 20th.
Politicians, however, are concerned about a 'no' vote. They say the electorate is angry at obeying EU budget rules only to see them flouted by France and Germany. They are bitter at being the biggest per capita contributors to the budget and are worried about immigration and a loss of national identity.
Resentment towards immigrants has grown there in recent years and it is also feared the poll might be used to express concern about EU enlargement.