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Spain rallies constitution bloc Spain rallies constitution bloc
(10 minutes later)
Spain has strongly defended the beleaguered EU constitution at a meeting in Madrid of the 18 countries that have ratified it.Spain has strongly defended the beleaguered EU constitution at a meeting in Madrid of the 18 countries that have ratified it.
Spain's Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, said EU countries favouring greater integration should go ahead, leaving others on the margins.Spain's Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, said EU countries favouring greater integration should go ahead, leaving others on the margins.
The UK, Czech Republic and Poland want the constitution replaced by a new, slimmed-down mini-treaty.The UK, Czech Republic and Poland want the constitution replaced by a new, slimmed-down mini-treaty.
The constitution was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005.The constitution was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005.
But Mr Moratinos said the existing constitution should be enlarged with new provisions addressing ordinary people's concerns in areas such as immigration, EU expansion, energy and climate change.But Mr Moratinos said the existing constitution should be enlarged with new provisions addressing ordinary people's concerns in areas such as immigration, EU expansion, energy and climate change.
He called it "a magnificent document" that should be "complemented rather than carved up".He called it "a magnificent document" that should be "complemented rather than carved up".
Deepening riftDeepening rift
The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Madrid says Spain now seems set on a collision course with opponents of the constitution.The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Madrid says Spain now seems set on a collision course with opponents of the constitution.
We cannot resign ourselves to Europe being no more than a huge market or a free trade area Alberto Navarro; Nicolas Schmit Q&A: Constitution's futureWe cannot resign ourselves to Europe being no more than a huge market or a free trade area Alberto Navarro; Nicolas Schmit Q&A: Constitution's future
Belgium and Luxembourg have expressed views similar to Spain's.Belgium and Luxembourg have expressed views similar to Spain's.
The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, aims to bring both camps together by June.The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, aims to bring both camps together by June.
Wary of dividing the EU even more, Germany only sent an observer to the Madrid meeting of "the friends of the constitution".Wary of dividing the EU even more, Germany only sent an observer to the Madrid meeting of "the friends of the constitution".
Germany did back the constitution in a parliamentary vote, but has not yet formally ratified it.Germany did back the constitution in a parliamentary vote, but has not yet formally ratified it.
The countries represented in Madrid were: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.The countries represented in Madrid were: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
'One voice''One voice'
The conservative contender in the French presidential race, Nicolas Sarkozy, was the first to call for a mini-treaty that would be ratified by parliament, not through another referendum.
Mr Moratinos wants to enhance the existing constitutionA mini-treaty would cut the existing constitution into bits and preserve only the technical changes that would allow the EU to work more effectively and admit further new members.
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.
Mr Moratinos wants to enhance the existing constitutionIn 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". 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.
Chancellor Merkel has warned that it would be a "historic mistake" not to complete institutional reforms of the kind envisaged in the constitution by 2009.Chancellor Merkel has warned that it would be a "historic mistake" not to complete institutional reforms of the kind envisaged in the constitution by 2009.