Ahern in constitution talks

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern had a telephone discussion with the Polish and Spanish governments yesterday in a bid to resolve the conflict surrounding the EU Constitution for Europe.

Both countries are being blamed for December's failure to agree the document because they disputed the voting arrangements for the member countries.

Polish prime minister Leszek Miller had arranged to come to Dublin to meet the Taoiseach about the matter later this month.

Meanwhile, Mr Ahern will have his first discussions with the German Chancellor over the draft Constitution when they meet in Berlin tomorrow.

Mr Ahern today meets Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt in Dublin and will list his views on whether its possible to agree the document during the Irish EU presidency.

A government spokesperson yesterday said that over the coming weeks they hope to take soundings from all the EU member states on the issue.

“We will engage in quiet and discreet networking to gauge if there is the political support there to agree the Constitution within the Irish presidency or whether it will take more time,” said the spokesperson. So far the British have told the Irish government that they believe agreement could have been reached at the failed meeting in December if a little more time could have been given to resolving the disagreements.

But the Germans and the French will play a major role in deciding a timescale for final agreement.

The remaining sticking points should become clearer later this month when the foreign ministers of France and Germany visit Dublin and hold talks with Minister Brian Cowan.

European Commission President Romano Prodi has said the Union should give itself this year to agree the Constitution and after that he believes that countries that want to integrate further will begin to move ahead, creating a two-tier EU.