A crucial EU summit kicks off in Brussels this evening.
Europe’s leaders are confronted with two burning issues: the future of the EU constitution and a battle over Brussels budgets.
Day one will see Europe’s heads of state and government wrestle with the future of the EU constitution.
Agreed at another ‘make or break’ Brussels summit exactly a year ago, the new EU treaty has been fatally wounded by referendums rejections in France and the Netherlands.
EU leaders – running scared of a wave of no votes across Europe – are set to delay the process for constitution ratification.
The deadline for the EU constitution will now fall beyond November 2006 as Poland, Denmark and the UK delay votes indefinitely.
Existing EU treaty rules negotiated in Nice in 2000 stay in force until 2009.
The summit may seek to cherry pick key areas of the constitution – such as an EU diplomatic service – to avoid institutional breakdown.
EU heads of state and government arrive for a welcome from the Luxembourg EU presidency at 5.00pm (CET).
Proceedings will be chaired by Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker.
European Parliament President Josep Borrell kicks off debate with an address to the summit at 5.30pm.
The first working session follows with a "tour de table" on “one of the two crucial issues facing this European Council, namely the process of ratification of the treaty establishing a constitution for Europe”.
Leaders continue discussions over dinner at 7.30pm “with a view to adopting a joint declaration”.
The summit will also hear from the European Commission on an EU communications strategy.
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