Spain has decided to hold a referendum on Feb. 20, 2005, on whether to ratify the first European Union Constitution, Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Monday.

The decision has been approved by both houses of parliament, Moratinos told the press. He urged the Spaniards to support the constitution.

He warned that the political construction of the 25-member bloc will be in jeopardy if the constitution is rejected in one or more EU member states.

An opinion poll released Monday showed that 56.9 percent of the Spanish population favor the EU constitution, 22.7 percent are undecided and only 7.9 percent against it.

The EU adopted its first constitution for the reunited continent on June 18. The constitution will come into effect in 2009 after being adopted by all 25 EU members.

Spain is likely to be the first EU member to ratify the treaty.Some members, such as Britain and Denmark, have already said they have no intention of holding the vote next year.

Once ratified, the constitution will give the EU a long-term president and foreign minister, streamline decision-making, eventually limit the size of the European Commission, and change the voting system.

Source: Xinhua