Dutch open to new-style EU constitution, poll shows

Dutch voters are increasingly open to the idea of a revised version of the EU constitution, but would still reject the current text of the charter, according to a fresh poll.

A survey conducted by polling firm TNS NIPO suggests that the Dutch people’s overwhelming rejection of the EU constitution in a 2005 referendum does not mean they are against the general idea of a European constitution.

The poll, released by Dutch RTL television on Wednesday (17 January), shows that 47 percent of the Dutch are “positive” about the idea of “a European constitution” - representing a surge of optimism compared to the eve of the June 2005 referendum, when this figure stood at 30 percent.

A minority of 18 percent today feels “negative” about the idea of “a constitution” whereas 33 percent are “neutral” and 8 percent do not know, according to the survey.

Read full article: EU Observer, 19 January 2007