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| Version 10 | Version 11 |
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| Enlargement test for EU leaders | Enlargement test for EU leaders |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| European Union leaders have begun a summit in Brussels to discuss how far and how fast the EU should expand. | European Union leaders have begun a summit in Brussels to discuss how far and how fast the EU should expand. |
| They are expected to reaffirm a pledge to let Turkey, Albania and ex-Yugoslav states join the EU in future. | They are expected to reaffirm a pledge to let Turkey, Albania and ex-Yugoslav states join the EU in future. |
| But they are also likely to say that EU institutions must be reformed before any new members can join, after Bulgaria and Romania on 1 January. | But they are also likely to say that EU institutions must be reformed before any new members can join, after Bulgaria and Romania on 1 January. |
| Earlier, the German chancellor said it would be a "historic failure" if the EU did not agree a constitution by 2009. | Earlier, the German chancellor said it would be a "historic failure" if the EU did not agree a constitution by 2009. |
| Angela Merkel said her government would work intensively towards this goal during Germany's six-month presidency of the EU, beginning in January. | Angela Merkel said her government would work intensively towards this goal during Germany's six-month presidency of the EU, beginning in January. |
| Capacity to act | Capacity to act |
| Arriving for the summit, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the leaders needed to agree on the reasons for enlargement. | Arriving for the summit, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the leaders needed to agree on the reasons for enlargement. |
| This meeting is likely to make it tougher for new countries to join without breaking any existing promises BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Leaders tackle EU future He said they should aim for consensus on "why enlargement is important for Europe and how we should do it in a way that reinforces the European capacity to act." | This meeting is likely to make it tougher for new countries to join without breaking any existing promises BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Leaders tackle EU future He said they should aim for consensus on "why enlargement is important for Europe and how we should do it in a way that reinforces the European capacity to act." |
| The EU took on 10 new members in 2004, and another two - Bulgaria and Romania - are due to join on 1 January. | The EU took on 10 new members in 2004, and another two - Bulgaria and Romania - are due to join on 1 January. |
| "The important issue is the problem if... we want to have our house in order before accepting new inhabitants," said Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker. | "The important issue is the problem if... we want to have our house in order before accepting new inhabitants," said Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker. |
| Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the EU had to put greater emphasis on "the capacity of the EU to take in new member states". | Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the EU had to put greater emphasis on "the capacity of the EU to take in new member states". |
| Ms Merkel said the EU had to have tough controls to ensure any new members met the entry criteria. | Ms Merkel said the EU had to have tough controls to ensure any new members met the entry criteria. |
| "I am not saying this as a threat but as an incentive for countries that want to join," she said. | "I am not saying this as a threat but as an incentive for countries that want to join," she said. |
| 'Turkey problem' | 'Turkey problem' |
| Now we can have this general debate about enlargement without this Turkey problem Matti VanhanenFinnish PM Q&A: EU enlargement The summit comes after EU foreign ministers decided on Monday to partially suspend accession talks with Turkey, because of Turkey's failure to open its sea and air ports to EU-member Cyprus. | Now we can have this general debate about enlargement without this Turkey problem Matti VanhanenFinnish PM Q&A: EU enlargement The summit comes after EU foreign ministers decided on Monday to partially suspend accession talks with Turkey, because of Turkey's failure to open its sea and air ports to EU-member Cyprus. |
| Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who is chairing the summit, welcomed the fact that it would now be possible to have a general debate about enlargement "without this Turkey problem". | Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who is chairing the summit, welcomed the fact that it would now be possible to have a general debate about enlargement "without this Turkey problem". |
| Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi is expected to propose a softer line towards Serbia, after talks on closer ties were halted earlier this year over Belgrade's failure to arrest war crimes suspect General Ratko Mladic. | Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi is expected to propose a softer line towards Serbia, after talks on closer ties were halted earlier this year over Belgrade's failure to arrest war crimes suspect General Ratko Mladic. |
| Correspondents say other countries in the region, including Slovenia, Slovakia and Hungary, would also back a resumption of the Serbian talks. | |
| However, the summit's draft conclusions say only that Serbia "remains welcome" to join the EU. | |
| Home affairs veto | Home affairs veto |
| The draft conclusions also keep open the idea of member states dropping their veto in justice and home affairs at some point in the future, in order to strengthen the fight against crime and terrorism. | The draft conclusions also keep open the idea of member states dropping their veto in justice and home affairs at some point in the future, in order to strengthen the fight against crime and terrorism. |
| Correspondents say Finland may ask the leaders to agree in principle that dropping the veto is the best way forward. | Correspondents say Finland may ask the leaders to agree in principle that dropping the veto is the best way forward. |
| But the UK, Germany and the Netherlands are expected to oppose the proposal. | But the UK, Germany and the Netherlands are expected to oppose the proposal. |
| UK Home Secretary John Reid said last week that most member states wanted to keep the veto, and that the idea should be scrapped. | UK Home Secretary John Reid said last week that most member states wanted to keep the veto, and that the idea should be scrapped. |