Summit highlights divisions over European Constitution

THE debate on the European Constitution was reignited at a summit of EU leaders yesterday.

Separate meetings are planned early next year for countries which have voted yes and those which have not yet voted for it, together with France and Holland, which both voted no.

However, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he did not want to be lumped in with those who have rejected the Constitution and those who have not yet taken a decision on a document which has divided the union.

Instead he wants to join forces with the 18 countries that have ratified the Constitution, although he does not intend holding a referendum on the issue just yet.

France and the Netherlands threw the bloc into crisis last year when they voted no to the document that was designed to structure the role and powers of the EU for the foreseeable future.

The 25 member states agreed to a period of reflection which was yesterday declared at an end. A period of “active thinking” was now beginning, according to the Finnish presidency of the union.

The German presidency, which begins its six-month tenure in January, has promised to consult widely and come up with proposals on what to do with the constitution at the end of next year.

During the two-day summit of EU leaders in Brussels, the Spanish and Luxembourgian governments issued invitations to the 18 governments which have ratified the treaty to attend a meeting in Madrid in January. The seven that have yet to ratify, including Ireland, have been invited to a second meeting in Luxembourg in February.

A spokesperson for the Spanish government said: “Those that have not ratified will have different issues to debate than those that have, which is why we invited Ireland to this meeting.”

However, the Taoiseach was adamant he wished to attend with those that have already ratified.

“We want to be part of that group that is pro-Constitution meeting in January. We want to ensure our interests are protected,” he said.

Ireland would prefer the document not to be unpicked but Mr Ahern acknowledged changes would have to be made to ensure the constitution was ratified by every member state.

Officials pointed out the seven countries were quite different with Ireland, Denmark and Sweden being pro-Europe, the Polish government being sceptical contrary to its citizens, while Britain and the Czech Republic oppose adopting the Constitution.

Countries will be represented by their minister for Europe, who in Ireland’s case will be Minister of State Noel Tracey, and the debates will feed into the German presidency’s work.

There is unlikely to be any final decision on the future of the Constitution until 2008, but Mr Ahern said: “There is growing support for the Constitution and the pro-group are back in the driving seat.”

However, not all the leaders were as positive. Dutch Prime Minister Jen Peter Balkenende, whose citizens rejected the Constitution 18 months ago, said he believed the planned meetings would lead to confusion.