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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| EU to drop idea of constitution | EU to drop idea of constitution |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| Germany has proposed to EU states that they should agree to drop the idea of a constitution when they meet at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. | Germany has proposed to EU states that they should agree to drop the idea of a constitution when they meet at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. |
| The "constitutional concept... is abandoned", says a paper circulated by Germany, which will chair the summit. | The "constitutional concept... is abandoned", says a paper circulated by Germany, which will chair the summit. |
| The paper makes several concessions to EU member states opposed to key parts of the failed constitution. | The paper makes several concessions to EU member states opposed to key parts of the failed constitution. |
| But Poland and the UK are still warning they could use their vetoes if they do not get their way on a new treaty. | But Poland and the UK are still warning they could use their vetoes if they do not get their way on a new treaty. |
| Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said a veto remained "highly likely" while UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said no deal was better than a bad deal. | |
| It does seem the British government has largely got its own way, although there's a lot of detail to be settled Mardell's thoughts in full | |
| Mrs Beckett told Parliament: "If it comes down to deal or no deal at this European Council the UK government is clear... no deal is better than buying any old pig in a poke." | Mrs Beckett told Parliament: "If it comes down to deal or no deal at this European Council the UK government is clear... no deal is better than buying any old pig in a poke." |
| She added that Britain wanted a Europe "of sovereign nations, not a superstate". | She added that Britain wanted a Europe "of sovereign nations, not a superstate". |
| The summit is intended to issue a mandate for an intergovernmental conference to agree the precise wording of a treaty to replace the failed constitution. | The summit is intended to issue a mandate for an intergovernmental conference to agree the precise wording of a treaty to replace the failed constitution. |
| If it fails, it will plunge the EU into a political crisis as deep as the one that followed the rejection of the constitution by French and Dutch voters two years ago. | If it fails, it will plunge the EU into a political crisis as deep as the one that followed the rejection of the constitution by French and Dutch voters two years ago. |
| The German paper proposes that the new treaty is called "The Reform Treaty", accepts that the EU will not have a "foreign minister", and provides countries with a chance to opt out of EU policies in the area of policing and criminal law. | The German paper proposes that the new treaty is called "The Reform Treaty", accepts that the EU will not have a "foreign minister", and provides countries with a chance to opt out of EU policies in the area of policing and criminal law. |
| Correspondents say the biggest remaining problem for the UK could be Germany's continued support for the idea of making the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding. | Correspondents say the biggest remaining problem for the UK could be Germany's continued support for the idea of making the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding. |
| The UK fears this could allow the European Court to make decisions that would change British labour law. | The UK fears this could allow the European Court to make decisions that would change British labour law. |
| Olive branch | Olive branch |
| We realise we cannot stop the process [of reform] - that would be too risky for the future Jaroslaw Kaczynski Q&A: EU constitution EU summit sticking points The part of the constitution that Poland most disliked - the introduction of a new voting system for decisions taken by member states - is preserved in the latest German proposals, seen by the BBC. | We realise we cannot stop the process [of reform] - that would be too risky for the future Jaroslaw Kaczynski Q&A: EU constitution EU summit sticking points The part of the constitution that Poland most disliked - the introduction of a new voting system for decisions taken by member states - is preserved in the latest German proposals, seen by the BBC. |
| However, the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says the German paper offers Poland a "discreet olive branch". | However, the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says the German paper offers Poland a "discreet olive branch". |
| For the first time it mentions, in a footnote, that the Poles, backed by the Czechs, want to raise the idea of changing the voting system at the summit. | For the first time it mentions, in a footnote, that the Poles, backed by the Czechs, want to raise the idea of changing the voting system at the summit. |
| The new system would benefit larger member states to the detriment of smaller and medium-sized ones, and have the effect of reducing Poland's clout. | The new system would benefit larger member states to the detriment of smaller and medium-sized ones, and have the effect of reducing Poland's clout. |
| Despite his warnings of a possible veto, Mr Kaczynski hinted Poland could drop its opposition if it guaranteed a strong voice in EU decision-making. | Despite his warnings of a possible veto, Mr Kaczynski hinted Poland could drop its opposition if it guaranteed a strong voice in EU decision-making. |
| "We realise we cannot stop the process [of reform] - that would be too risky for the future," Mr Kaczynski told Reuters news agency. | "We realise we cannot stop the process [of reform] - that would be too risky for the future," Mr Kaczynski told Reuters news agency. |
| He said there was a 50-50 chance of the summit ending in agreement. | He said there was a 50-50 chance of the summit ending in agreement. |
| Under the latest German proposals, Britain gets reassurances that the European Courts will have no power to examine foreign affairs policies. | Under the latest German proposals, Britain gets reassurances that the European Courts will have no power to examine foreign affairs policies. |
| And at the request of the Dutch, the draft gives more power to national parliaments to block EU laws. | And at the request of the Dutch, the draft gives more power to national parliaments to block EU laws. |
| But a Dutch proposal to enshrine criteria for further enlargement in the treaty, is not fully satisfied. | But a Dutch proposal to enshrine criteria for further enlargement in the treaty, is not fully satisfied. |
| That would send a very negative signal to Balkan countries, an EU diplomat said. | That would send a very negative signal to Balkan countries, an EU diplomat said. |