French President Jacques Chirac reiterated Thursday that it was too early to decide on whether France should hold a referendum on the European Union (EU) Constitution.

"There are two procedures in France to ratify a treaty, a jointvote of both the National Assembly and the Senate or a referendum.Both of them have been used in the past for ratification of EU treaties," Chirac said at a news conference at the Elysee Palace on the eve of the EU's expansion to 25 members on Saturday.

"It is to my opinion too early to decide on one or the other option," Chirac said, adding that it ought to make it clear on what the French people will vote.

He said on April 21 that he had not yet decided to approve the future EU Constitution by a referendum in France, like the United Kingdom, or by a parliamentary vote.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced on April 20 with a volte-face that the British would organize a referendum on the future EU Constitution.

"The British are in a different situation" because they do not have a written constitution. In that context, the prime minister decided he should consult the British. That is a political choice on which, naturally, I have no comment," he told the conference, adding "I don't imagine that Britain could find itself in the situation of having to leave Europe."

Source: Xinhua