Dutch leader seeks to avoid new EU treaty referendum

One year after the failed referendum on the EU constitution in the Netherlands, Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende has indicated he will try to avoid a second referendum on a possible revised treaty text.

Thursday (1 June) marks the one-year anniversary of the Dutch poll when 61.6 percent rejected the EU constitution.

Mr Balkenende reiterated to international media on Wednesday (31 May) that The Hague will not put the document for ratification in a second referendum, with ...