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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| New call to save EU constitution | New call to save EU constitution |
| (3 days later) | |
| The 18 EU countries that have approved the bloc's draft constitution have urged the nine other members to help revive the entire beleaguered document. | |
| Representatives of the states, meeting in Spain, called for the other nine members not to scrap the constitution but to help build on it. | Representatives of the states, meeting in Spain, called for the other nine members not to scrap the constitution but to help build on it. |
| 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. |
| French and Dutch voters rejected the constitution in referendums in 2005. | French and Dutch voters rejected the constitution in referendums in 2005. |
| Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told the meeting in Madrid the constitution was "a magnificent document" that should be "complemented rather than carved up". | Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told the meeting in Madrid the constitution was "a magnificent document" that should be "complemented rather than carved up". |
| "Is the only way out of the constitutional impasse the wholesale dismantling of the constitutional treaty? By cutting it into little pieces?" he asked. | "Is the only way out of the constitutional impasse the wholesale dismantling of the constitutional treaty? By cutting it into little pieces?" he asked. |
| Deepening rift | Deepening rift |
| The new constitution was drafted to streamline decision-making within the growing EU and would create a permanent president and foreign ministry. | The new constitution was drafted to streamline decision-making within the growing EU and would create a permanent president and foreign ministry. |
| 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 Yes camp hardens position Q&A: Constitution's future | We cannot resign ourselves to Europe being no more than a huge market or a free trade area Alberto Navarro; Nicolas Schmit Yes camp hardens position 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. |
| But our correspondent says that will not be easy. | But our correspondent says that will not be easy. |
| 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. |
| Mini-treaty | Mini-treaty |
| The countries represented in Madrid were: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. | |
| Portugal also sent a representative, even though it has not ratified the constitution. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |