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| EU constitution 'is still alive' | EU constitution 'is still alive' |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Ministers from 17 European Union countries are due to meet in the Spanish capital, Madrid, hoping to keep alive the idea of an EU constitution. | Ministers from 17 European Union countries are due to meet in the Spanish capital, Madrid, hoping to keep alive the idea of an EU constitution. |
| The 17 countries have approved the constitution, and want it to come into force with as few changes as possible. | The 17 countries have approved the constitution, and want it to come into force with as few changes as possible. |
| The proposals were rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005. | The proposals were rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005. |
| Germany, which is currently leading EU efforts to revive the constitution, regards the meeting as unhelpful, and is only sending an observer. | Germany, which is currently leading EU efforts to revive the constitution, regards the meeting as unhelpful, and is only sending an observer. |
| We cannot resign ourselves to Europe being no more than a huge market or a free trade area Alberto Navarro; Nicolas Schmit class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/4596005.stm">Q&A: Constitution's future Germany did back the constitution in a parliamentary vote, but its leaders are concerned that the meeting could alienate France and the Netherlands, as well as the seven other countries that have put ratification on hold. | |
| The countries sending ministers to the meeting are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. | The countries sending ministers to the meeting are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. |
| Observers from Ireland and Portugal, which have not yet ratified the constitution, are also expected to attend. | Observers from Ireland and Portugal, which have not yet ratified the constitution, are also expected to attend. |
| 'One voice' | 'One voice' |
| The Europe Ministers of Spain and Luxembourg, who organised the conference, say the countries that have approved the constitution - with a combined population of more than 270 million - want their voice to be heard. | The Europe Ministers of Spain and Luxembourg, who organised the conference, say the countries that have approved the constitution - with a combined population of more than 270 million - want their voice to be heard. |
| It raises false expectations for those who want a constitution and unnecessary fears for those that share the conservative view that Europe does not need a constitution Timothy Kirkhope In a joint article published in a number of European newspapers, Spain's Alberto Navarro and Luxembourg's Nicolas Schmit say that in today's globalised world "a united and capable Europe is more necessary than ever". | It raises false expectations for those who want a constitution and unnecessary fears for those that share the conservative view that Europe does not need a constitution Timothy Kirkhope In a joint article published in a number of European newspapers, Spain's Alberto Navarro and Luxembourg's Nicolas Schmit say that in today's globalised world "a united and capable Europe is more necessary than ever". |
| "We cannot resign ourselves to Europe being no more than a huge market or a free trade area," they write. | "We cannot resign ourselves to Europe being no more than a huge market or a free trade area," they write. |
| "We want a political Europe that can speak with one voice, and with one minister of foreign affairs and a common foreign service." | "We want a political Europe that can speak with one voice, and with one minister of foreign affairs and a common foreign service." |
| They also back the draft constitution's shift towards more qualified majority voting, and the inclusion in the text of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. | They also back the draft constitution's shift towards more qualified majority voting, and the inclusion in the text of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
| In an interview with Reuters news agency, Mr Schmit said the meeting would send a message that the constitution was not dead. | In an interview with Reuters news agency, Mr Schmit said the meeting would send a message that the constitution was not dead. |
| "It is a positive action aimed to remind people that Europe needs profound reform and that at this stage the best reforms on which agreement has been reached are those found in the constitutional treaty," he said. | "It is a positive action aimed to remind people that Europe needs profound reform and that at this stage the best reforms on which agreement has been reached are those found in the constitutional treaty," he said. |
| 'Crazy timing' | 'Crazy timing' |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that it would be a "historic mistake" not to complete institutional reforms of the kind envisaged in the constitution by 2009. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that it would be a "historic mistake" not to complete institutional reforms of the kind envisaged in the constitution by 2009. |
| But even supporters of the constitution have questioned the usefulness of the Madrid meeting. | But even supporters of the constitution have questioned the usefulness of the Madrid meeting. |
| The leader of British Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, Andrew Duff, a prominent supporter of the constitution, said there was serious risk of dividing the union. | The leader of British Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, Andrew Duff, a prominent supporter of the constitution, said there was serious risk of dividing the union. |
| "The only way this crisis can be solved is if all member states arrive at a common position informed by a debate involving all of them," he said. | "The only way this crisis can be solved is if all member states arrive at a common position informed by a debate involving all of them," he said. |
| Timothy Kirkhope, leader of UK Conservative MEPs, said holding the meeting now was crazy timing. | Timothy Kirkhope, leader of UK Conservative MEPs, said holding the meeting now was crazy timing. |
| "It raises false expectations for those who want a constitution and unnecessary fears for those that share the conservative view that Europe doesn't need a constitution," he said. | "It raises false expectations for those who want a constitution and unnecessary fears for those that share the conservative view that Europe doesn't need a constitution," he said. |