Rasmussen: Fair to give the public a say

Mr Rasmussen said that while he was mostly satisfied with the draft constitution published this week, it was only fair to give the public a say about its many new elements.

No date has been set for the vote, which is expected to take place before the end of 2005.

Denmark is one of a number of smaller EU nations and candidate countries which are worried they will be sidelined if some clauses of the draft are adopted.

The draft has also angered some UK Eurosceptics, who believe it will pave the way for a European superstate.

The UK Government has ruled out a referendum, insisting that the constitution only tidies up existing EU treaties.

Do we want a directorate in Europe where the big six states decide everything? - if so it will be the end of the European Union German MEP Elmar Brok

There are particular concerns in small states about plans for a permanent presidency, to replace the current rotating presidency which gives equal status to all EU member countries.

There are also fears that plans to reduce the number of European commissioners - currently one per country - will further diminish the roles of smaller countries in the union.

The "big six" nations - EU members UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, plus candidate member Poland - are backing the proposals.

'Riding roughshod'

The Convention on the Future of Europe has been working on the draft for more than a year, with the aim of streamlining the organisation and structure of the EU before it acquires 10 new members in May 2004.

Giscard is accused of overlooking smaller nations

The convention's chairman, former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, said on Monday that most of the draft had been approved except for "institutional questions" including those of the presidency and an EU foreign ministry.

But some European politicians accused Mr Giscard d'Estaing of riding roughshod over the views of smaller states.

"Do we want a directorate in Europe where the big six states decide everything?" said German Christian Democrat MEP and convention member Elmar Brok. "If so it will be the end of the European Union."

Swedish-born EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstroem was quoted by AFP news agency as saying that the chairman had "not attached great importance" to what the convention thought.

French frustration

The draft constitution appears to have generated little public interest in larger EU countries, with the exception of the strong Eurosceptic reaction in the UK which has led to calls for a referendum there.

The BBC's Ray Furlong in Berlin says the debate is just not a big deal in Germany, where people are more concerned about the looming recession.

An article in the French daily Le Monde suggests that progress towards a new constitution has been frustrated by the smaller nations, and also by British "fighting for concessions every inch of the way".

And there has been little enthusiasm at the very heart of the EU, in Brussels, though Belgium does share some of the concerns of the smaller countries.

'Boring place'

Despite Mr Rasmussen's referendum plans, media comment in Denmark has been muted.

The EU, its goals and decision were meant to be made simpler and more comprehensible - and none of that has happened Austrian newspaper Die Presse

The daily Information described the draft as "very unsurprising" and "carefully designed for the EU middle-of-the-road", noting that Mr Giscard d'Estaing had failed to get his way with pro-integrationist proposals.

"Fortunately, the EU is a very boring place," it said. "Typified by civil servants, negotiations and tedious long meetings. The convention's draft constitution does not change this one iota. And we are grateful for that."

A press report from Austria, another member of the camp of smaller nations, provided another clue to the lack of public interest.

"The aim is to bring the EU closer to citizens," said a leader in the newspaper Die Presse. "The EU, its goals and decision were meant to be made simpler and more comprehensible. And none of that has happened."

But there appeared to be greater enthusiasm for debate on the institutions from candidate countries.

"These issues are of particular concern to small countries, including Latvia," said the Riga daily Diena. "The 16 small countries are not planning to give up without a fight."