David Cameron has had a "full and frank discussion" with the president of the European Council ahead of an expected clash at a Brussels summit over the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker to the EU’s top job.

Despite political and economic fights that have brought to the brink of crisis, the European Union is not hobbled, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said yesterday, speaking as the current president of the organisation.

EU LEADERS urged member states to pursue efforts to ratify the EU constitution yesterday despite Dutch voters following the French in rejecting the charter.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was on the brink of his finest political hour last night as the first European constitution was close to being agreed.