On 2 June 1998, the Constitutional Committee of the Austrian Federal Council submits a report on the constitutional bill adopted by the National Council on 12 May authorising the ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam. The interpretation of the legal basis of this decision prescribes a majority of two thirds for its adoption by the Federal Council.

After being called to give a ruling on 4 December 1997, on 31 December the French Constitutional Council decides that the legal authorisation to ratify the Treaty of Amsterdam may not be given without prior revision of the Constitution.

On 6 October 1998, the Danish Ministry of Justice outlines its reflections on the question of whether the Treaty of Amsterdam involves a transfer of powers that would require a revision of the Constitution. It concludes that the application of the procedure provided by Article 20 of the Constitution is sufficient for Denmark’s accession to the Treaty of Amsterdam.

On 5 March 1998, Klaus Kinkel, German Foreign Minister, outlines to the Bundestag the political and institutional implications of the Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and related acts.

Extract from the full minutes of parliamentary debates in the Nationalrat on 12 May 1998. The Austrian National Council adopts the federal constitutional bill authorising the ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam by a majority of two thirds.

Extract from the full minutes of parliamentary debates in the Bundesrat on 4 June 1998. The Upper Chamber of the Austrian Parliament confirms the adoption by the National Council on 12 May of a federal constitutional bill authorising the ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam.

Extract from the full minutes of parliamentary debates on 1 December 1998, following which the French National Assembly adopts the constitutional bill amending Article 88-2 of the Constitution by 469 votes to 69. This is a prerequisite for the ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam.

Full minutes of parliamentary debates in the French National Assembly during the first sitting of 3 March 1999 on the explanations of vote on the entire bill authorising ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam.

Full minutes of parliamentary debates in the French National Assembly during the second sitting of 3 March 1999 on the explanations of vote and the vote on the entire bill authorising ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam. The bill is adopted by 447 votes to 75.

Full minutes of the parliamentary debates held on 16 March 1999, following which the French Senate adopts the bill authorising the ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam, already adopted by the National Assembly, by 271 votes to 42.

Extract from the minutes of debates in the Dáil Éireann on 26 March 1998. Following these discussions, the lower house of the Irish Parliament approves the resolution tabled by the government to amend Article 29(4) of the Constitution so as to authorise ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam. The amendment subsequently has to be approved by a referendum.

Extract from the minutes of debates in the Seanad Éireann on 1 April 1998. The Irish Senate approves in turn the resolution tabled by the government to amend Article 29(4) of the Constitution; it will subsequently be put to a referendum.

Extract from the minutes of debates in the Seanad Éireann on 17 June 1998. The Irish Senate approves the bill ratifying the Treaty of Amsterdam that was tabled by the government on the basis of Article 29 of the Constitution, amended by a referendum.

Extract from the minutes of debates in the Dáil Éireann on 25 June 1998. Following approval by the Senate, the lower house of the Irish Parliament in turn approves the bill ratifying the Treaty of Amsterdam that was tabled by the government on the basis of Article 29 of the Constitution, amended by a referendum.

Extract from the minutes of debates in the Dáil Éireann on 3 February 1998. The lower house of the Irish Parliament adopts by 71 votes to 44 a bill for the establishment of an independent 'referendum commission' to provide information and stimulate public debate prior to referendums, while respecting the interests of all parties.

Extract from the minutes of debates in the Seanad Éireann on 25 February 1998. The Irish Senate approves the bill providing for new procedures for the conduct of referendums and establishing an independent ‘referendum commission’ to provide information and stimulate public debate prior to referendums, while respecting the interests of all parties.

Irish Labour Party poster encouraging voters to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty on 22 May 1998, ‘for a just and equal Europe for all’.

Poster by the Irish Democratic Left party encouraging voters to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty on 22 May 1998. Although the party was strongly opposed to the Maastricht Treaty, it emphasises the progress on social Europe made by the Amsterdam Treaty.

On 22 May 1998, the Irish people vote in favour of the amendment to Article 29(4) of the Constitution authorising the ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam by 932 632 votes to 578 070.

In the third edition for 1998 of its publication Centrum Debat, the Danish Centre Democrats party calls on the public to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum on the Treaty of Amsterdam due to be held on 28 May.

In this brochure, the Danish People’s Party calls on the public to vote ‘no’ in the referendum on the Treaty of Amsterdam due to be held on 28 May, explaining that this is the only way to preserve Denmark’s independence and sovereignty.

Le référendum danois du 28 mai 1998 sur le Traité d’Amsterdam connait un taux de participation s’élevant à 76,2%. 55,1% du public se prononce en faveur du Traité de sorte que la ratification se poursuit et qu’il entre en vigueur le 1^er mai 1999.