Gross signs EU Constitutional Treaty

Czech Prime Minister Stanislav Gross was among the many heads of government or heads of state on Friday to sign the European Union Constitution at a special ceremony in Rome. He and Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda were second in line to do so following representatives from Belgium; the signing on Friday took place in the lavish "Orazi and Curiazi" Hall at the Renaissance Campidoglio Palace, the site where treaties on the original European Economic Community were signed in 1957.

The newly-signed EU Constitution will now need to be ratified individually by all 25 by EU member states, either by referendum, or by parliamentary vote.

The Czech Republic is among nine EU countries that will hold a referendum.