Spain's Senate Ratifies EU Constitution

MADRID - Spain's Senate ratified the new European Union constitution Wednesday, becoming the ninth country to approve the landmark document.
All 25 EU members must formally endorse the constitution before it can go into force. The document streamlines decision-making and establishes an EU president and foreign minister in moves aimed at making the union more efficient.
The constitution faces a tough test in France where the French will vote in a May 29 referendum. Polls show the ballot is too close to call.
In Spain, the document passed with an overwhelming margin in a nonbinding referendum in February and then approved by the lower house of Parliament in April. The Senate ratified it Wednesday with 225 votes in favor, six against and one abstention.
"I'm convinced that every region, municipality and every Spaniard can feel identified with this constitutional text," said Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.