ITALY IS FIRST FOUNDING MEMBER TO RATIFY EU CONSTITUTION.

After being endorsed by the Italian parliament on January 25, the EU Constitutional Treaty was approved by the senate, making Italy the first of the founding members of the European Community to ratify the Constitution, much to the satisfaction of the European Commission. The text was adopted by a very wide majority with 217 senators voting in favour and 16 against.

The Treaty is set to enter into force after ratification in parliament or by referendum in the 25 EU member states. The...