But the Danish vote did little to ease many other obstacles to unity.

Publication of a community-sponsored poll showing weakening support was reportedly postponed until after the Danish vote.

"The Danish vote blew out the smokescreen of hope that Europe was marching nicely into the future," he said.

After the Danish vote, he decided to postpone the ratification process in Parliament until the dust had settled.

But today, the focus of attention was on the problems caused by the Danish vote.

The Danish vote has, however, confronted the government with a new problem.

A positive Danish vote on Tuesday would turn all eyes to London.

Opponents argued that the Danish vote killed the treaty, which must be ratified by all 12 members of the European Community to go into effect.

After the Danish vote, a shift of focus toward answering that question seems inevitable.

What is not simple, especially after the Danish vote, is to know what to do about that conundrum.