Anyone who thinks that the Iraqis will have a constitution in six months, as Powell keeps saying to get his UN vote, should consider how long the thirteen colonies took, and the trouble the EU is nowq having.
The divisions among the European leaders were most evident on Saturday when the twenty five of them sat down for talks about the European Constitution during the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) held at Rome's Palazzo dei Congressi.
Despite the Italian prime minister's plea to all his colleagues to avoid a wholesale renegotiation of a constitutional text, various states, including Malta, have expressed a number of reservations regarding certain points included in the draft, which was drawn under the chairmanship of former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing.
In his opening speech, Italy's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, said that no EU constitution can be formed and can function if it negates the fundamental values of even one of the member states. However, he added, such a constitution cannot function either if states put obstacles to the process by making "over-particularistic" demands.
Similar statements were voiced by the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, who also said that he was very confident that the European leaders would eventually reach agreement despite the differences of positions taken with regards to the constitution draft.
In a letter sent to the Italian premier, Silvio Berlusconi, on the eve of Saturday's meeting, Malta, together with Austria, Finland, Hungary, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Lithuania, demanded major revisions to the draft. The main concern these countries have expressed is that the European constitution should respect the principles of equality within the EU. Reacting to this letter, Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said that Europe "cannot reopen Pandora's Box". He added that Europe has to "say no to the seven countries that have asked Premier Berlusconi to reopen the debate on the draft's fundamental points."
During the IGC, Malta and these other six countries, sought to renegotiate majority voting rules, the role of EU leaders in union decision-making, the need to keep the EU presidency rotating among member states, the allocation of European Parliament seats and national votes in decision-making ministerial meeting.
While Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, and Denmark are largely satisfied with the draft, many of the smaller members, including Malta are unhappy about the proposal to cut the number of EU commissioners to 15, fearing a loss of influence. Currently there are 20 Commissioners, with a total of 25 when the new members join. Malta has been putting its claim for a commissioner for each member state.
These are not the only difficulties which the EU is facing however, since other member states are raising questions about different parts of the draft. The UK is insisting that foreign issues, taxation, social security and defence matters remain subject to national vetoes.
Poland and Spain want to retain the formula that allocates national votes in decision-making meetings while Germany and others back the draft's proposal for a redistribution of votes to more closely reflect population figures.
Spain and Poland have expressed their opposition to the voting system as well, and Jose Maria Aznar, the Spanish leader, insisted that the Nice treaty will remain in force until a new agreement between all member states is reached.
Also, the Catholic member states, including Malta, Poland, Spain and Italy want the constitution to refer to God and Judeo-Christian values as a vital part of European heritage.
Failing to reach an agreement, Italian the EU leaders failed are expected to resume their talks in two-weeks time in Brussels at a meeting for foreign affairs ministers. Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, who led the Maltese delegation in Rome, expressed optimism that the European leaders would eventually come to an agreement. The Maltese premier was expected to arrive in Malta on Saturday evening when he would give a press conference.
from
maltamedia.com
Reminds one why the US has both a House based on population, and a Senate based on geography.
JMO
lurqer |
