‘No’ to treaty instead of EU constitution

A MINI-TREATY, as suggested by French President Nicholas Sarkozy to replace the stalled EU constitution, is off the agenda, according to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern took time out from trying to form a coalition government to travel to Berlin for discussions with Ms Merkel on the constitution. He too ruled out a mini-treaty as far as Ireland is concerned and is pushing for a document in substance the same as that rejected by France and the Netherlands.

In Madrid, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Mr Sarkozy said that their positions were very close in relation to the treaty. Spain was the first country to vote in favour of the original document.