States warned to stop hampering EU progress

Countries defending “red lines” in the European constitution talks were accused tonight of damaging the smooth running of the 25-nation EU.

European Commission President Romano Prodi did not name names, but one of the main targets of his jibe is known to be British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is battling to preserve national sovereignty.

Mr Prodi, who would sweep away the right of national veto in EU decision-making entirely if he could, has launched his accusation as the constitution talks enter the “end-game” phase.

The constitution, which is effectively a new EU Treaty to streamline decision-making and avoid bureaucratic gridlock in the expanded EU, has been attacked by eurosceptics as an excuse to push for more federalism.

Mr Blair is under extreme pressure not to concede on his “red line” issues - keeping the right of veto on EU decisions involving taxation, foreign police, special security, defence, and decisions on the euro-budget.

Only last week British foreign secretary Jack Straw vowed to keep “batting for Britain”, insisting: “If we do not get our key red lines for the UK then we won’t sign up for the constitution”.

Tonight, arriving in Guadalajara, Mexico, for an EU-Latin-America summit, Mr Prodi said governments had to show flexibility in the last phase of the negotiations: “The constitution is a remarkable achievement which should not be remembered for last-minute red lines that this or that government imposed on others as a condition for compromise.”

He added: “All this talk about red lines can only cause damage to the main issue which is the good functioning of an enlarged Union”.

Speculation is growing that the UK – and some other countries – will use their “red lines” as leverage to barter for the European Commission President of their choice when Mr Prodi stands down later this year.

Mr Blair might back the current Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, in return for the rest agreeing to leave the veto in place in policy areas crucial to the UK.

But Mr Prodi does not want the constitution debate sullied by horse-trading, and this afternoon he refused to speculate about his successor.

Instead he made it plain he thinks his time in the job has brought such change to the EU that everyone now wants to take over.

“When I took the job in 1999 it was generally regarded as an impossible challenge that very few people could meet.

“In five years we have brought in ten new member states, introduced the euro, created a whole new policy with our neighbours, executed the biggest-ever reform of the institution, and are about to have, I hope, a new constitution.

“As a consequence, all of a sudden everybody wants my job and some would like to have it immediately.”

Mr Prodi added: “I only wish my successor will be a strong politician ready to fight for Europe, as I have done.

”You simply cannot please everyone all the time. Sometimes you have to take tough, even unpopular decisions. That’s what leadership is about”.