THE HAGUE - European Parliament President Josep Borrell called on the Netherlands on Tuesday to back the EU constitution in a referendum next week, saying that a "no" vote would impact on the whole of Europe.
"It is the choice of the Dutch people, but the choice, a rejection of the constitutional treaty, would affect all European countries," Borrell told a news conference after meeting Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.
"It is difficult to imagine Europe withouth the Netherlands," he said.
Although the referendum is consultative, the major political parties have said their members in parliament would abide by the result if voter turnout exceeds 30 percent.
The ballot will come three days after a French referendum on the EU treaty. As in France, the latest polls over the weekend show the Dutch "no" campaign ahead.
Earlier on Tuesday on the sidelines of a meeting with the Dutch parliament Borrell said a "no" would prevent Europe from becoming an important economic actor. "We would again become a bipolar world, split into two blocs, China and the United States," the Dutch news agency quoted him as saying.
He said a Dutch "no" would prevent the constitution from coming into force, and ruled out the treaty's renegotiation.
Earlier on Tuesday the head of the Dutch Labour Party Wouter Bos said the Netherlands might consider a second referendum if Dutch voters reject the EU constitution treaty in a first ballot set for June 1.
If the Dutch vote "no" on the treaty, "we will have to see if the Netherlands stands alone," Bos told the daily Algemeen Dagblad, noting that 10 more European countries are expected to hold referendums.
"The Netherlands could then organize a second referendum," he said.
The Dutch Labour Party pushed for a referendum on the EU treaty, along with the parties of the center-right government coalition.
05/24/2005 17:44 GMT