A survey released on Friday by the European Commission (EC) shows that 49 percent of European Union (EU) citizens are in favor of the EU Constitution.

The survey, conducted by the EC's statistical agency after the signature of the constitution in Rome last October, says 16 percent of those surveyed are opposed to it and 35 percent do not express an opinion.

Positive opinions prevail on negative ones in all countries with the exception of Britain, which has been widely considered as a major obstacle to the approval of the EU constitution.

According to the survey, indecision reaches a majority in some of the countries which have announced a referendum, namely, 67 percent in Ireland, 53 percent in Portugal and 50 percent in Britain.

The survey also indicates that more than half of the EU citizens say they know little about the draft EU Constitution and a third more declare they have never heard about it.

The poll was realized between Oct. 27. and Nov. 29, 2004 among a sample of nearly 25, 000 persons across the EU.

The EU member states have entered into the approving process of the EU Constitution one after another, with most of them declaring to conduct a referendum on the adoption.

If the approving process goes smooth, the EU Constitution will enter into force as of Nov. 1, 2006.

Source: Xinhua