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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Berlin talks for Blair and Merkel | Berlin talks for Blair and Merkel |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair is to meet German chancellor Angela Merkel for talks on issues from climate change to Africa. | Tony Blair is to meet German chancellor Angela Merkel for talks on issues from climate change to Africa. |
| The prime minister will meet Ms Merkel, whose country currently hosts the rotating EU and G8 presidencies, in Berlin on Tuesday. | The prime minister will meet Ms Merkel, whose country currently hosts the rotating EU and G8 presidencies, in Berlin on Tuesday. |
| His spokesman said they would include the Middle East peace process and international action on climate change. | |
| But he said they were not likely to discuss the stalled EU Constitution, which Germany plans to revive. | |
| Ms Merkel has warned Europe will face an "historic failure" if it does not revive the Constitution - which has effectively been on hold since it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. | Ms Merkel has warned Europe will face an "historic failure" if it does not revive the Constitution - which has effectively been on hold since it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. |
| 'Dead' constitution | 'Dead' constitution |
| In January she told MEPs: "The reflection pause is over. By June, we must reach a decision on what to do with the constitution." | In January she told MEPs: "The reflection pause is over. By June, we must reach a decision on what to do with the constitution." |
| But Mr Blair has shrugged off any commitment to a revived constitution. | But Mr Blair has shrugged off any commitment to a revived constitution. |
| Asked if the European Constitution was "dead" as far as the UK was concerned last week, he told MPs it would not be diplomatic to talk about the "deadness" of the constitution, when so many countries had signed it. | Asked if the European Constitution was "dead" as far as the UK was concerned last week, he told MPs it would not be diplomatic to talk about the "deadness" of the constitution, when so many countries had signed it. |
| Mr Blair said the best thing for Europe was to focus on what rules would make a more effective, expanded European Union. | Mr Blair said the best thing for Europe was to focus on what rules would make a more effective, expanded European Union. |
| But Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said she believes there is little chance of it being revived. | But Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said she believes there is little chance of it being revived. |
| Mr Blair's spokesman said he did not expect the issue of the EU Constitution to come up on Tuesday, as it was "not the main focus" of the forthcoming EU summit next month. | Mr Blair's spokesman said he did not expect the issue of the EU Constitution to come up on Tuesday, as it was "not the main focus" of the forthcoming EU summit next month. |