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| Dutch cabinet to discuss EU vote | Dutch cabinet to discuss EU vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Dutch cabinet is due to meet to decide whether to hold a referendum on the European Union's new Reform Treaty. | |
| Two of the three parties in the ruling coalition are opposed to a referendum, but a third, the Labour Party, is split over the issue. | |
| Dutch voters rejected the proposed European constitution in 2005, plunging the EU into a political crisis. | Dutch voters rejected the proposed European constitution in 2005, plunging the EU into a political crisis. |
| Reports suggest that the public could vote against the new treaty too, if given the chance. | Reports suggest that the public could vote against the new treaty too, if given the chance. |
| Labour ministers are reported to be under intense pressure from their own members of parliament to demand a popular vote on the new treaty. | Labour ministers are reported to be under intense pressure from their own members of parliament to demand a popular vote on the new treaty. |
| They say voters had a chance to vote on the constitution, so they should have a chance to vote on its successor. | They say voters had a chance to vote on the constitution, so they should have a chance to vote on its successor. |
| The cabinet discussed the issue last Friday, but did not reach a decision. | The cabinet discussed the issue last Friday, but did not reach a decision. |
| Referendum 'tricky' | Referendum 'tricky' |
| Michele de Waard, diplomatic correspondent of the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, told BBC News that a majority of voters appeared to be against to the treaty. | Michele de Waard, diplomatic correspondent of the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, told BBC News that a majority of voters appeared to be against to the treaty. |
| A second Dutch referendum now would put wind in the sails of those who want one in Britain BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Mardell's euroblog Q&A: Dutch referendum | A second Dutch referendum now would put wind in the sails of those who want one in Britain BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Mardell's euroblog Q&A: Dutch referendum |
| "The government has conducted secret opinion polls, which show that a referendum would be very tricky," she said. | "The government has conducted secret opinion polls, which show that a referendum would be very tricky," she said. |
| "I hear from government sources that only 47% of people who took part were in favour of the new treaty." | "I hear from government sources that only 47% of people who took part were in favour of the new treaty." |
| Both the Labour Party and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats support the Reform Treaty. | Both the Labour Party and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats support the Reform Treaty. |
| A third party in the coalition government, the Christian Union, is against the treaty, but is also against referendums on principle. | A third party in the coalition government, the Christian Union, is against the treaty, but is also against referendums on principle. |
| Ms de Waard said it appeared that a majority in the lower house of the Dutch parliament were in favour of a popular vote, and may vote to organise a referendum regardless of the government's decision. | Ms de Waard said it appeared that a majority in the lower house of the Dutch parliament were in favour of a popular vote, and may vote to organise a referendum regardless of the government's decision. |
| However, she added that the upper house of parliament was opposed to a referendum, and would probably block any such decision by the lower house. | However, she added that the upper house of parliament was opposed to a referendum, and would probably block any such decision by the lower house. |