Visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said here on Thursday that his country would not hold a referendum on the EU constitution like Britain, France and some other EU members.

"In Germany, the constitution forbids the referendum and we will respect the constitution," Schroeder told reporters after holding an hour-long talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair reportedly on European issues as well as bilateral and international issues.

It was a sovereign issue for both France and Britain to decide on a referendum on the EU treaty that aims to streamlining EU decision-making after the historic enlargement to 25 member stateson May 1, Schroeder said.

France decided on Wednesday to hold a referendum on the EU constitution, several months after the British government announced that Britain would let the public to decide whether to ratify the new treaty.

The EU constitution could only come into force after being ratified by the 25 EU members. If any of the EU members say "no" to the treaty in a future vote, there could be a new vote or the treaty would need renegotiating.

Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Ireland and Luxembourg have also decided to hold referendum on the EU treaty and Belgium, the Czech Republic and Poland are also expected to do so.

Source: Xinhua