Cyprus to ratify EU constitution end-May

The EU Constitutional Treaty will be tabled before the Cyprus House of Representatives for ratification before the end of the current parliamentary session, end of May, President of the House European Affairs Committee Nicos Cleanthous has told the Cyprus News Agency CNA.

Cleanthous said that the House Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to reach a conclusion as regards the issue of British Bases in Cyprus discussed at the Committee, before the ratification of the European Constitution.

The European Affairs Committee discussed yesterday the difficulties if faces concerning the role it is called to play within the new conditions and mainly concerning the exercise of parliamentary control on time and before the discussion of legislation proposals before the Council of Ministers.

Cleanthous said the Committee decided to set up a Subcommittee, under his presidency, to discuss various issues with Cypriot ministries.

Social Democrats Movement EDEK Honourary President Vassos Lyssarides had raised the issue of political and legal aspects of British Bases at the Foreign Affairs Committee, because as he said the British have integrated into the European Constitutional Treaty the agreements regarding their Bases in Cyprus, linking them with certain provisions of the European Constitution.