Here is an up-date of the Maastricht Treaty ratification procedures up to 18 December 1992 and also of the EEA Agreement and the Hungary and Poland Agreements. We thank the "Division for Relations with the Parliaments of the Member States" of the European Parliament which made the publication of this dossier possible.

With votes in favour by the Italian Chamber of Deputies, the Belgian and the Spanish Senate, the Portuguese Assembly, the Two Ducth Chambers and the Bundestag and Bundesrat, on 29 October, 4 and 25 November, 9 and 10 December, 10 and 15 December and 2 and 18 December respectively, the Treaty of Union has just been ratified by an additional six countries. This bring to ten the number of countries that have now ratified, either by referendum - Ireland and France - or through the parliamentary process -Luxembourg, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands and Germany. In this generally favourable situation uncertainty remains as to the results of the second Danish referendum et the date of the British ratification. In most Member States, changes will be required to bring national constitutions into line with the Treaty provisions. In general, the constitutional changes were made prior to ratification (as in Germany, Spain, France and Portugal), but this is not always the case. For example , Belgi

um, Italy and Luxembourg will amend their constitution at a later date. In certain cases, it is not the constitution which will have to be amended, but existing laws, in particular on voting rights for foreigners. In several Member States, the constitutional changes made in connection with the ratification of the Treaty on European Union do not include provision for subsequent transfers of powers to be made automatically, for example, powers deriving from the intergovernmental conference to be held in 1996, in particulary on common defense and powers of the European Parliament. Thus, the agreement between the German Government and Parliament provides for approval by a two-thirds majority in both chambers for any new stage in integration. In most Member States, the debate on the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty has served to increase the influence exerted by the national parliament concerned on the Community activities of its own government. For example, the French National Assembly will have the right,

which it does not have in any other area, to adopt own-initiative resolutions on Community activities; the supervisory powers of the German Bundestag will be enhanced, in particular as regards respect for the rights of the Länder. The involvement of the Bundesrat in Communuty affairs is now enshrined in the constitution. Moreover, provision has in some cases been made for a second vote in the parliaments, after ratification, on the transition to the third stage of EMU (in 1997 or at latest in 1999): this is the case in the United Kingdom and also in Germany, where the Bundesrat - like the Bundestag - wishes to be formally consulted. In some countries, debates on constitutional changes or ratification are arriving at conclusions which differ slightly from the Treaty. In France, the obligation, under the Treaty, to give Community citizens the right to vote and stand for election in municipal elections has become a possibility. In Luxembourg, Parliament accompanied its authorization for ratification with a mot

ion calling on the Government to set tight restrictions on foreigners' voting rights. It should also be noted that the national parliaments will be required to authorize the ratification of several other agreements of direct interest to the Community: - the Schengen Agreement (signed by eight EC countries, already ratified by France, Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg and to be ratified by Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands and Germany); - The EEC-EFTA agreement on the European Economic Area (now ratified by Portugal and Ireland, ratifications are forseeen before the end 1992 in The Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg and Germany); - The EEC association agreements with Hungary and Poland,( ratified in UK, Denmark and Ireland. The ratification is forseen in Luxembourg and Germany before the end of 1992). The "Delors II package", concerning expenditures and resources of the EEC budget, will also require the approval of each of the twelve national parliaments, when it has been decided on by the European Council.

Belgium: On 17 July the Chamber adopted the bill approving the Treaty by 146 votes to 33 with three abstentions. Those against: Vlaams Blok (extreme right regionalist party), Volksunie - but the leader of their parliamentary group voted in favour - as did the Ecologists. The three abstentions were by the National Front and the Rossem Party. The debate and vote in the Senate were held on 4 and 5 November. On 4 November the Senate adopted the bill approving ratification of the Treaty of European Union by 115 votes in favour with 26 against and one abstention. Those who voted against were :Ecolo-Agavel (except Mr Ludo Dierckx,President of the Belgian Federalist Intergroup, who voted in favour), the Volksunie (except Mr van Hooland, who abstained) and the Vlaams Blok. The constitutional amendment for the right to vote and the eligibility of the Community citizens to stand in local government elections will be considered not before the end of 1993.

Denmark: Result of the referendum of 2 June 1992: No: 50.7%; Yes: 49.3%.

After the government's submission of its White Paper on Denmark and the Maastricht Treaty, seven of the eight parties in the Folketing (with the exception of the right coalition of the "Progress Group") worked out a national compromise vis-à-vis the Treaty. This compromise was proposed by the left parties "Socialdemokratiet" and "Socialistik Folkeparti" and was formally approved by the Folketing committee responsible for relations with the European Community. Under the compromise, Denmark would not take part in the so-called 'defence'dimension; would not introduce the common currency, and would not be subject to the requirements of economic policy relating to the third stage of EMU (but would take part in monetary cooperation as conducted within the EMS); would not be bound by commitments relating to citizenship of the Union; would not agree to the transfer of sovereignty in judicial and policing matters (but could participate in intergovernmental cooperation). The Danish Government will then submit, in Janu

ary, a new bill on the basis of the "decision" adopted by the Edinburgh European Council. After the parliamentary adoption, the government will be able to call for a second referendum, which should take place in April.

Germany: The Bundestag voted 543 to 17 in favour of ratification of the Treaty of Maastricht. At the same time it adopted a resolution calling for a guarantee of the stability of the currency of the future EMU. The majority parties (CDU,CSU and FDP) together with the Greens and the Social-democrats voted in favour, the former communists of the DDr(PDS) voted against. The Bundesrat ratified on 18 December.

Spain: The Spanish Parliament amended the Constitution (Article 13.2) to give Community citizens the right to vote and stand as candidates at local elections. On 29 October, Congress adopted the government ratification bill. The vote was 314 in favour, 3 against with 8 abstentions (out of a total of 350 members). Three members of the basque Herri Batasuna coalition voted against. The abstentions were by some of the Izquierda Unida (United Left) coalition, in particular its president Julio Anguita. The bill was adopted by the Senate on 25 November 1992, completing thus the ratification processus.

Greece: The Greek Parliament ratified the Maastricht Treaty on 31 July By 386 votes to only 8 against (Greek Communist Party KKE and one ecologist member). The opposition (PASOK) was in favour of ratification.

France: In June the Congress (Assembly and Senate combined in Versailles) adopted a constitutional amendment bill by a wide majority (the RPR abstained) providing for the transfers of powers 'necessary' for establishing EMU and laying down rules for visa policies. The result of the 20 September referendum was as follows: yes: 51.05%; no: 48.95%, giving a majority of 2.10% (539 894 votes). The turnout was very high (69.68%).

Ireland: In the 18 June referendum, the Irish voted in favour of the Treaty by a very large majority (67%).

Italy: On 17 September the Treaty was approved by a overwhelming majority by the Senate (176 to 16, with 1 abstention). Besides the government coalition parties (Christian Democrat, Socialist, Social-Democratic and Liberal Parties) the following voted in favour: the Left Democratic Party (PDS), the Northern League, the Republican Party (PRI) and the Greens. Rifondazione Comunista voted against. The Movimento Sociale-Destra Nazionale Group (MSI-DN) abstained. On 29 October the Chamber approved the Treaty by 403 votes to 46 with 18 abstentions. MSI and Rifondazione comunista voted against; the Lega Nord abstained. To be noticed the absence of almost all political party secretaries and of the former Foreign Minister and negotiator of the Maastricht Teaty, Mr. Gianni De Michelis.

Luxembourg: On 2 July the Luxembourg Parliament voted in favour of the bill approving the Treaty by 51 votes to 6 (against: Ecologists, Communists and the Five-Sixths Party). The Constitution will have to be amended to give the right to vote and stand for election to Community citizens. The amendment should be implemented in 1994.

The Netherlands: The Second Chamber voted in favour of the ratification bill on 10 November. Only four small parties (12 votes) voted against the three 'reformed' parties (the GP, RPF and SGP), the Green Party and the extreme right party (Democratic Centre). The First Chamber achieved the ratification procedure on 15 December.

Portugal: On 17 November an amendment to the Constitution was made (right to stand for election, powers of the Central Bank, currency issues). The Assembly ratified on 9 and 10 december 1992: the extreme left (Communist Party) and a part of the right wing (LDS) voted against .

United kingdom: The timetable for ratification remains uncertain. Two votes of principle in favour of the Treaty of Maastricht took place on 20 May and 4 November this year. On 4 November the government proposition passed with a majority of only three votes. The Government officially announced that the final vote in the two Houses (House of Commons and House of Lords) will take place after the Danish ratification.