Ahern gets right result in game of political football

Ann Cahill, European Correspondent

As the leaders of the 25 member states waited together in a room with only a television for company, they were called out one by one by the Taoiseach for consultations.

Never one to waste time, Bertie Ahern in a confessional type setting also got their views on who they favoured as the next president of the commission.

Sitting with them in the increasingly intense atmosphere was the current European parliament president Pat Cox.

Not known as a football fan he however was game enough to join in the viewing of the match.

Earlier in the evening Poland threw his name into the ring for the post of Commission president. However, nobody seemed to take the bait, not even the Taoiseach.

Eventually after the second match got under way between Italy and Sweden the final whistle was blown on the constitution.

The final draft was distributed and the leaders were called to resume their meeting. It came at the end of a long day of mostly public sniping between the traditional foes, the British and the French.

The smaller countries ganged up occasionally and at one stage produced yet another letter demanding greater safeguards to ensure the large countries could not outvote them too easily at meetings in the future.

The Irish diplomats and mathematicians did what the Irish are best at drew up compromises but were in danger of watering down the elements so much that they would be meaningless.

They were also in danger of putting in so many sub clauses in the pivotal voting issue that it would be difficult to operate.

Some of the earlier drafts were unintelligible to most countries, being worded in a peculiarly Irish civil-service speak.

But in the end they used a little lateral thinking and aided by the obvious fatigue of the nations' leaders the deal was done.

Decisions by ministers will need the support of at least 55% of countries which must add up to 15 representing 65% of the EU's population.

Seats in the Parliament will be increased to 750 with a minimum of six for any country and a maximum of 96. The share out will be decided and is expected to give Poland and Spain extra seats because they agreed to abandon the extra clout they got under the Nice voting system.

The Irish and British were happy to have the two articles on taxation removed, avoiding any suggestion that the EU could have a say on this in the future.

Most aspects of justice, foreign and security policy, Economic and monetary policy, the suspension or withdrawal of a member state and various nominations to positions of power can only take place with near unanimous agreement by the member states.

Every country, irrespective of whether it is large or small, will lose their Commissioner for one in every three five-year term.

A middle way was found between Dutch demands that eurozone countries respect the Stability Pact and the limit of 3% deficit on their budget, and the Germans who did not want this included.

While leaders were happy to shake hands on the agreement last night in Brussels, they all know that the next battle will be to get their public to accept the Constitution.