BUDAPEST, Dec 20 (AFP) - Hungary became the second country to ratify the European Union's constitution after parliament voted overwhelmingly Monday to back the text, which aims to streamline the workings of the 25-member bloc.
The vote, which crossed party lines, was 304 in favour of ratification and nine against. Eight deputies abstained and the rest were absent in the 385-seat legislature.
Hungary joined the EU on May 1 of this year in an expansion that included 10 nations, eight of them former communist states of central and eastern Europe.
The constitution is the first ever for the Union and is aimed at preventing decision-making gridlock after the EU grew from 15 to 25 members.
The text has been accepted by the leaders of all member states, but must still be ratified by each country -- either by a referendum or a parliamentary vote -- before it can come into force.
Last month Lithuania, another new EU member, became the first country in the bloc to ratify the EU constitution, following a parliamentary vote.
12/20/2004 15:21 GMT - AFP