By Nicola Smith - 5th October 2003
Agreement on the EU’s first ever constitution seemed a long way off on Saturday as early signs of deep divisions between EU member states emerged at the launch of negotiations in Rome.
The biggest challenge to the rapid completion of the constitution is likely to come from Spain and Poland who have joined forces in opposition to proposed new voting rules.
The determination of the two countries to stick firmly to the voting system agreed at the Nice summit three years ago has riled France and Germany who want to remain close to the draft constitution text.
Protests from Madrid and Warsaw over the issue prompted veiled Franco-German threats to cut billions of euros of EU aid if the constitution talks were disrupted.
According to El Pais, French President Jacques Chirac specified a “clear link” between the dispute on voting rights and future distribution of EU aid. The paper said Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had made similar remarks.
Spanish Premier Jose Maria Aznar showed no signs of backing down and said he would not be swayed by the warnings.
Foreign Minister Ana Palacio dismissed the suggestion that Spain was endangering agreement on the draft text.
“No one is blocking the reforms, neither Spain nor any other country. But Spain and other countries have their disputes and points of disagreement on some specific issues,” she told reporters.
Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller was equally defiant.
“It won’t be us who will present a compromise. It’s not us who wants to change a treaty.”
And while Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called on leaders of the 25 current and future member states not to delve too far into the text drafted by the European convention, it remained clear that many countries still have significant sticking points.
Many smaller members are unhappy with the plan to cut the number of EU commissioners to 15, wary of a loss of influence at the heart of EU decision-making.
Members are also in disagreement over whether the constitution should make an explicit reference to God, Christianity or religion.
Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, the UK and Denmark have, however, declared themselves largely satisfied with the draft text.
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