European Union leaders have begun a second day of tough negotiations in Brussels amid disagreements over new rules to run the 27-member bloc.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said EU leaders were doing their "level best" to reach a compromise.
Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency, has drafted proposals to replace a planned constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
But both the UK and Poland are threatening to veto the blueprint.
Thursday's outline document dropped a reference - at France's instigation - to one of the founding principles of the common market.
The words "undistorted competition" were replaced with talk of a social market economy and full employment, says the BBC's Alex Ritson.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said EU leaders were doing their "level best" to reach a compromise.
Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency, has drafted proposals to replace a planned constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
But both the UK and Poland are threatening to veto the blueprint.
Thursday's outline document dropped a reference - at France's instigation - to one of the founding principles of the common market.
The words "undistorted competition" were replaced with talk of a social market economy and full employment, says the BBC's Alex Ritson.
It was not clear if the wording would affect EU competition policy, or whether that policy was underpinned by remaining references to free markets.
Talks between the German and Polish leaders opened proceedings on Friday, but the agenda was otherwise fairly loose, with bilateral talks likely to focus on key issues.
After two-way talks, the 27 leaders are set to gather again at lunchtime.
The Germans are at some stage expected to produce a new draft of the mandate for the future treaty.
'Absurd' statement
British Prime Minister Tony Blair - attending his final EU meeting before leaving office next week - has set out a number of "red lines" beyond which he will not compromise.
These include proposals to make the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding.
Talks between the German and Polish leaders opened proceedings on Friday, but the agenda was otherwise fairly loose, with bilateral talks likely to focus on key issues.
After two-way talks, the 27 leaders are set to gather again at lunchtime.
The Germans are at some stage expected to produce a new draft of the mandate for the future treaty.
'Absurd' statement
British Prime Minister Tony Blair - attending his final EU meeting before leaving office next week - has set out a number of "red lines" beyond which he will not compromise.
These include proposals to make the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding.
BBC News
No comments:
Post a Comment