![EU tries to salvage constitution: UK waivers, but ‘New Europe’ offers support](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] After the second No to the EU constitution in four days was handed down by Dutch voters Wednesday [JURIST report], European leaders are struggling to keep the charter alive. Current EU President and Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker [official website] has said that the double rejection from France [JURIST report] and the Netherlands has put Europe in "a dangerous position." UK Foreign Office sources indicated Thursday that British plans to hold a referendum on the European Constitution in 2006 are being put on hold [AFP report], although no formal announcement has as yet been made by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw [Wikipedia profile]. Support for the constitution and the ongoing ratification process is coming, however, from new-member East European states. Latvia's 100-member parliament voted overwhelmingly Thursday to ratify the pact, and Polish leaders [AFP report] say were determined to hold a referendum for the charter, which most Poles support. Reuters has more.