Amsterdam, Netherlands ? Dutch voters worried about social benefits and immigration overwhelmingly rejected the European Union constitution Wednesday in what could be a knockout blow for a charter meant to create a power rivaling the United States.

With nearly all votes counted, the charter lost 62 percent to 38 percent, an even worse defeat than the 55 percent “no” vote delivered in a French referendum Sunday.

“The Dutch people have spoken tonight. It is a clear result. Naturally I am very disappointed,” Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said in conceding defeat in his campaign for ratification.

The charter was designed to provide such trappings of statehood as a flag, a president and an anthem for what has largely been an economic bloc, while creating a more integrated political entity of 450 million people with a bigger economy than America’s.

But the idea has proved increasingly polarizing, with opponents worrying about loss of national control and identity to a stronger, unaccountable EU bureaucracy at the heart of a superstate. There also is anxiety about mostly Muslim Turkey possibly becoming an EU member.

Socialist Party supporters celebrate in Amsterdam, Netherlands, after the announcement of preliminary results of the referendum on the proposed European Union constitution. The Dutch voted down the proposal Wednesday by an overwhelming 62 to 38 margin, with nearly all of the votes counted.

Nine EU states have ratified, but the charter needs approval from all 25 states to take effect in late 2006, and the “no” vote in both France and the Netherlands – founding members of the bloc – was a clear message that European integration has gone awry.

“We must acknowledge that many Europeans doubt that Europe is able to answer the urgent questions of the moment,” said German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, leader of the EU’s richest nation and a strong proponent of the charter.

Although the referendum was consultative, the high turnout and the decisive margin left no room for the Dutch parliament to turn its back on the people’s verdict. The parliament meets today to discuss the results.

Some 62 percent of Dutch voters turned out, far exceeding expectations in a reflection of the heated debate in recent days.