Current status concerning EU Constitution:
• Belgian senate adopted the EU Constitution on 29 April 2005. Parliament ratified on 19 May 2005; eventually ratified by the regional parliaments. The ratification process yet to be completed by the King and the government.
• Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said in a TV interview that the French and Dutch No votes were "not No votes against Europe, but were votes against a certain type of Europe. What people want is a strong Europe, a United States of Europe that can give an answer to their concerns". (BBC Today programme, 21 March 2006)
UPDATES
• 16 June 2006: Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said after the EU Summit in Brussels (15-16 June): “I had the impression that there was an attempt to bury” the Constitution, but “the pressure is being maintained on those which suspended the process of ratification.”
• 05 May 2006: According to the Eurobarometer:
- 60% think their country's EU membership is "a good thing".
- 36% chose "a common constitution" when asked to choose two from six options concerning what "would be most helpful for the Future of Europe" (highest)
- 44% chose "a common constitution" when asked to choose two from six options concerning what "would strengthen your feelings about being a European citizen." (highest)