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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU summit to reconsider expansion | EU summit to reconsider expansion |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The heads of the 25 European Union states are expected to make it harder for new members to join, when they meet for their annual summit in Brussels. | The heads of the 25 European Union states are expected to make it harder for new members to join, when they meet for their annual summit in Brussels. |
| This, they will argue, will allow time to reform the EU's key institutions. | This, they will argue, will allow time to reform the EU's key institutions. |
| Arguments are expected over a call by the EU's executive, the Commission, for the veto over justice and home affairs to be dropped, our correspondent says. | Arguments are expected over a call by the EU's executive, the Commission, for the veto over justice and home affairs to be dropped, our correspondent says. |
| The UK, Germany and the Netherlands are expected to oppose the proposal which is meant to help fight terrorism. | The UK, Germany and the Netherlands are expected to oppose the proposal which is meant to help fight terrorism. |
| 'Turkey problem' | 'Turkey problem' |
| EU leaders are expected to call for issues such as judicial reform and fighting corruption to be tackled early on when considering new applications for membership. | EU leaders are expected to call for issues such as judicial reform and fighting corruption to be tackled early on when considering new applications for membership. |
| Now we can have this general debate about enlargement without this Turkey problem Matti VanhanenFinnish PM class="">Leaders ponder future Q&A: EU enlargement | |
| The summit comes after EU foreign ministers decided on Monday to partially suspend accession talks with Turkey. | The summit comes after EU foreign ministers decided on Monday to partially suspend accession talks with Turkey. |
| The decision stems from Turkey's refusal to open its sea and air ports to EU member Cyprus, under a customs union pact it signed with the bloc last year. | The decision stems from Turkey's refusal to open its sea and air ports to EU member Cyprus, under a customs union pact it signed with the bloc last year. |
| Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen who will chair the summit, told Reuters news agency that his purpose was to find some kind of consensus about enlargement. | Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen who will chair the summit, told Reuters news agency that his purpose was to find some kind of consensus about enlargement. |
| "Now we can have this general debate about enlargement without this Turkey problem," he said. | "Now we can have this general debate about enlargement without this Turkey problem," he said. |
| National veto | National veto |
| The European Commission has argued strongly that the fight against crime and terrorism needs far closer cooperation between countries. | The European Commission has argued strongly that the fight against crime and terrorism needs far closer cooperation between countries. |
| This, they say, could be best achieved by governments dropping their national veto. | This, they say, could be best achieved by governments dropping their national veto. |
| However, the idea was part of the constitution already rejected in the French and Dutch referendums. | However, the idea was part of the constitution already rejected in the French and Dutch referendums. |
| That said, Finland - the current EU chair - will ask the 25 prime ministers and presidents to sign up to a statement saying the ideas in the constitution about the veto are the best way forward. | That said, Finland - the current EU chair - will ask the 25 prime ministers and presidents to sign up to a statement saying the ideas in the constitution about the veto are the best way forward. |
| If it is not, those who warn parts of the constitution will be introduced by the back door will feel vindicated, the BBC's Europe Editor, Mark Mardell, says. | If it is not, those who warn parts of the constitution will be introduced by the back door will feel vindicated, the BBC's Europe Editor, Mark Mardell, says. |