EU leaders divided on way forward for constitution

European Union leaders have agreed to take a tough new line on EU hopefuls - but remained divided today over how to reform the faltering EU constitution before any new expansion of a union that will swell to 27 members in January.

The EU charter was meant to serve as a blueprint for how to govern an expanded EU after the bloc welcomed 10 new members, most of them ex-communist nations from Eastern Europe, in 2004.