The Hindu : E.U. accord on statute likely

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004

International

International

E.U. accord on statute likely

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS, MARCH 24. The European Union is likely to sign a deal on the adoption of the much-delayed European Constitution at a summit here tomorrow.

The Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the E.U., has been holding talks with key leaders on the eve of the summit in this regard. The French President, Jacques Chirac, told Mr. Ahern last night in Paris that he should restart the constitutional talks only if he were certain that they would succeed.

The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, met the Prime Minister of Poland, Leszek Millar, when both leaders expressed the opinion that the summit could witness an accord being reached. The Constitution talks broke down in December when Poland and Spain demanded higher voting rights than what France, Germany and Britain would allow. Poland, with a population of 60 millions and Spain with 40 millions, demanded voting parity with larger E.U. member states.

The recent election of a Socialist Government in Spain has vastly changed the equations of power in the E.U. as the new regime in Madrid is determined to pursue more European-oriented policies and is eager to foster relations with France and Germany, in particular. The former centre-right Government of Jose Maria Aznar was more U.S.-and Britain-oriented and was a leading champion of the Washington-initiated war on "global terrorism". The Spanish Prime Minister-elect, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, said he would also work for a compromise at the summit.

With Spain and Poland agreeing to make compromises on voting rights, the prospect of the European Constitution being adopted by June is fairly bright.

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