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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| EU leaders to discuss new treaty | EU leaders to discuss new treaty |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| EU leaders are preparing to meet in Brussels to discuss a treaty to help the union work more effectively. | EU leaders are preparing to meet in Brussels to discuss a treaty to help the union work more effectively. |
| A draft tabled by Germany recommends deep reforms, but not a constitution - an idea spurned by French and Dutch voters two years ago. | A draft tabled by Germany recommends deep reforms, but not a constitution - an idea spurned by French and Dutch voters two years ago. |
| 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. |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the BBC the revised treaty was "good for Britain". | |
| "Britain - with this agreement that is on the table - will have more votes, will have much more votes," he told Radio 4's Today programme. | "Britain - with this agreement that is on the table - will have more votes, will have much more votes," he told Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Failure would almost amount to humiliation for Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel Mardell's thoughts in full | Failure would almost amount to humiliation for Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel Mardell's thoughts in full |
| "It is good for all those who want to push forward an agenda of an open Europe, a modern Europe, a Europe that is efficient. It is not at all about creating a kind of super federal state. No one is proposing this. Why are we creating imaginary threats?" | "It is good for all those who want to push forward an agenda of an open Europe, a modern Europe, a Europe that is efficient. It is not at all about creating a kind of super federal state. No one is proposing this. Why are we creating imaginary threats?" |
| UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said 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. |
| We realise we cannot stop the process [of reform] - that would be too risky for the future Jaroslaw KaczynskiPolish Prime Minister Q&A: EU constitution EU summit sticking points Q&A: Charter of Fundamental Rights | We realise we cannot stop the process [of reform] - that would be too risky for the future Jaroslaw KaczynskiPolish Prime Minister Q&A: EU constitution EU summit sticking points Q&A: Charter of Fundamental Rights |
| 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. |
| 'Olive branch' | 'Olive branch' |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
| '50-50 chance of deal' | '50-50 chance of deal' |
| Despite his warnings of a possible veto, Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski hinted that Warsaw could drop its opposition if it guaranteed a strong voice in EU decision-making. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY What kind of democracy is this when our own leaders are doing deals behind our backs? Philip Davies, UK Send us your comments | |
| "We realise we cannot stop the process [of reform] - that would be too risky for the future," he told Reuters news agency. | "We realise we cannot stop the process [of reform] - that would be too risky for the future," he 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. |