Last year, all 25 member states of the European Union solemnly signed up to a new constitutional treaty that is supposed to make the enlarged EU more democratic, more effective and more transparent. Now the 25 governments have to get that document ratified in their national parliaments. At least 10 are proposing to hold national referendums on what is a long (nearly 300 pages) and complicated document. Barely a third of their voters say they are well informed about what it contains. It is high time that the member states launched a comprehensive programme to enlighten and explain if they want to win positive support for such a fundamental treaty.

On a purely mathematical basis, the probability of all 25 voting in favour is very low. On a political basis, however, the chances are that most will say Yes. Only the UK seems to be consistently sceptical about the benefits of the constitutional reforms. Opinion polls suggest that 24 of the 25 are in favour.