The European Union's stalled constitution cleared its final legislative hurdle in Belgium on Wednesday, bringing the country one step closer to becoming the 14th EU member state to ratify it, according to Reuters. The constitution, meant to adapt the 25-nation bloc's creaking institutions to cope with enlargement, has been in limbo since French and Dutch voters rejected it in referendums last year. After a day-long debate on Wednesday, the parliament of Belgium's northern Flemish region voted in favour of the charter. It was the last legislative body in the country to approve the document before it is signed into law by the federal and regional governments and by the monarch. Thirteen countries have so far ratified the text, but all member states must approve it before it can come into effect. The constitution provides for a more democratic decision-making system and a long-term president of the European Council of national leaders, in place of a six-month rotating presidency. It also provides for an EU foreign minister and a slimmed-down executive European Commission. --SP 21 54 Local Time 18 54 GMT
