Dutch unhappy about EU constitution talks

The Dutch government has voiced dissatisfaction at a proposal to resume the stalled talks about a European constitution without the participation of the Netherlands and France, both of which last year rejected a draft text in separate referendums.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende warned of chaos if countries are excluded from the talks. Spain and Luxembourg, which launched the proposal, want first to resume the negotiations with countries that backed the charter in January with France and the Netherlands joining a month later.

Source: Radio Netherlands, 15 December 2006