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| Poland may block EU treaty deal | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said there are still serious problems with Poland over voting rights before crucial talks on a new EU treaty. | |
| Germany, the current holder of the EU presidency, wants states to agree to a roadmap for a new constitution at next week's summit in Brussels. | |
| Polish President Lech Kaczynski kept up the threat of vetoing any deal that reduces Poland's voting rights. | |
| Czech PM Mirek Topolanek said he backed Poland after a meeting with Mrs Merkel. | |
| Only the Czech Republic supports Poland on the issue. | Only the Czech Republic supports Poland on the issue. |
| Even if the UK can be kept happy, the Poles could veto any new treaty BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Read Mark's thoughts in full | |
| Speaking in Luxembourg after meeting Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Mrs Merkel said: "We still have several serious problems to solve before the council." | Speaking in Luxembourg after meeting Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Mrs Merkel said: "We still have several serious problems to solve before the council." |
| But Mrs Merkel insisted that the issue had to be solved at the summit, which begins on Thursday. | But Mrs Merkel insisted that the issue had to be solved at the summit, which begins on Thursday. |
| On Saturday, Mrs Merkel met President Kaczynski in Germany for crucial talks on the simplified treaty. | |
| 'Worth dying for' | 'Worth dying for' |
| French and Dutch voters rejected a proposed EU constitution in 2005. | French and Dutch voters rejected a proposed EU constitution in 2005. |
| The new, simplified treaty is expected to address demands for institutional change to help the EU to operate more efficiently. | The new, simplified treaty is expected to address demands for institutional change to help the EU to operate more efficiently. |
| But Mr Kaczynski has threatened to block efforts to draft it at the summit because of the proposed changes to the voting system. | But Mr Kaczynski has threatened to block efforts to draft it at the summit because of the proposed changes to the voting system. |
| The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says Poland currently has a good deal compared to its size, but under the "double majority" system it stands to be one of the biggest losers. | The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says Poland currently has a good deal compared to its size, but under the "double majority" system it stands to be one of the biggest losers. |
| Mr Kaczynski says he wants European leaders to discuss what he believes is a fairer alternative - calculating voting rights according to the square root of each country's population, rather than simply according to population. | Mr Kaczynski says he wants European leaders to discuss what he believes is a fairer alternative - calculating voting rights according to the square root of each country's population, rather than simply according to population. |
| If Poland is not allowed to have its say, it will use its veto, Mr Kaczynski has warned. | If Poland is not allowed to have its say, it will use its veto, Mr Kaczynski has warned. |
| "For the time being, we're each sticking to our positions, yet with theconviction that there must be success next Thursday and Friday," Mr Kaczynski said on Sunday. | |
| The president and his twin brother, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, say their plan "is worth dying for". | The president and his twin brother, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, say their plan "is worth dying for". |