British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Monday that Britain has postponed plans for a referendum on the EU constitution.

"We reserve completely the right to bring back the bill providing for a UK referendum should circumstances change. But we see no point in proceeding at this moment," Straw told the House of Commons.

"It is not for the UK alone to decide the future of the treaty," he said, adding the impact of the "no" votes must be discussed by European leaders at a summit in Brussels, Belgium next week.

"The EU has to come to terms with forces of globalization, in a way which maximizes prosperity, employment and social welfare," hesaid.

"The EU does now face a period of difficulty. In working in our interests and the Union's interests, we must not act in a way which undermines the EU's strengths and the achievements of five decades."

The Netherlands vetoed the European charter in a Wednesday referendum, after the French "no" on Sunday.

The EU constitution requires the approval of all the 25 EU members to go into force by Nov. 1, 2006. 

Editor: Yan