French deputies today approved the ratification of the Treaty of Nice five days after it was rejected in a referendum in Ireland.
As expected, the treaty was supported by the Socialist party of Prime Minister Mr Lionel Jospin, and the Gaullist RPR party of President Mr Jacques Chirac - the two men who negotiated the document for France at December's summit.
The vote was 407 to 27, with 113 abstentions. The Green party and the Citizens' Movement of former interior minister Mr Jean-Pierre Chevenement voted against, while the pro-European Union for French Democracy (UDF) abstained.
The treaty is expected to be passed by the upper house, the Senate, in the coming month, after which France will become one of the first European countries to complete its ratification.
AFP