The EU biggest member state and founding member of the bloc has easily passed the European Constitution through its lower parliament.

Germany's Bundestag voted 569 in favour with 23 against and two abstentions - well over the two thirds majority threshold needed to get the document through.

Most of those voting no came from the ranks of the Christian Democrat opposition parties. They are against the Constitution because they believe it will take too much power away from their own national parliament in favour of the EU.

The Constitution will now pass to the upper house where it is expected to be endorsed without any problems on 27 May.

This will happen just two days before the French referendum on the Constitution and is hoped by the leaders of France and Germany that a German green light will influence French citizens' decision.
 
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