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The signing ceremony for the European Union's charter of fundamental rights has been disrupted by European deputies who want referendums on EU reforms.

MEPs at opposite ends of the political spectrum chanted and brandished placards, many of them booing.

Dozens heckled Portuguese PM Jose Socrates, whose country holds the EU Presidency, when he signed the charter in the parliament in Strasbourg.

EU leaders will sign the new treaty of the union in Lisbon on Thursday.

The largest contingent of protesters were British, with others from countries including France, Italy and Poland.

"Referendum, we want a referendum. The people of Europe deserve to decide for themselves," Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's UK Independence Party, shouted from his seat.

"No matter how loud you heckle and yell, today is a day of fundamental importance for Europe," Mr Socrates said in his speech to the assembly.

Britain and Poland have secured opt-outs from the charter, which will come into force once the EU's 27 member states ratify a reform treaty to replace the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

frigidmagi wrote:Just how is this treaty suppose to last when even the guys in charge of it are heckling it? Not to mention from what I've read there's this mass of folks who fell they've been end runned and conned... Is this really all that smart?