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Dutch cabinet rules out EU vote Dutch cabinet rules out EU vote
(20 minutes later)
The Dutch cabinet has decided against holding a referendum on the European Union's new Reform Treaty. The Dutch cabinet has decided against holding a referendum on the EU's new Reform Treaty, amid fears the public would reject the document at the polls.
Two of the three parties in the governing coalition opposed a referendum, but a third, the Labour Party, was split over the issue. Voters in the Netherlands and France rejected the treaty's predecessor - a proposed European constitution - two years ago, plunging the EU into crisis.
Dutch voters rejected a proposed European constitution in 2005 - following a French refusal and plunging the EU into a political crisis. Reports had indicated the Dutch public would vote against the new treaty too.
Reports had indicated that the public would vote against the new treaty too. The decision on a referendum now goes before the Dutch parliament, where many MPs are said to favour a public vote.
The 2005 referendum, effectively scuppering the proposed constitution, was held at the initiative of parliament, rather than the government.
Two of the three parties in the Dutch governing coalition had opposed a referendum on the new treaty, but a third, the Labour Party, was split over the issue.
Although the Labour party as a whole does not oppose the EU Reform Treaty, a faction within it has argued that the views of the public must be taken into account before the document is adopted.