Italië streeft naar ratificatie EU-grondwet voor Kerstmis 2004 (en)

Italy hopes to ratify the new European Constitution before Christmas, its foreign minister has announced.

According to agency reports, Franco Frattini said, "We seek to be the first to ratify it... at the latest it will be a Christmas present".

The Treaty will be signed in Rome on 29 October and the Italian Parliament will be asked to work swiftly on its approval, added Mr Frattini.

This annoucement follows news that France's leaders are considering moving forward a referendum on the Constitution to May next year.

But the first referendum among the member states is expected to be held in Spain which has already set a definite date - 20 February.

And the European Parliament hopes to be the first parliament in the EU to state its position on the text, which is due to be adopted in Strasbourg on 15 December.

The Constitution needs to be ratified by all 25 member states - either by referendum or via national parliaments - before it can come into force.