D.WELLE
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Poland's President Lech Kaczynski
Poland says new voting plans give too much influence to Germany
Germany's chancellor is stepping up efforts to broker a compromise with Poland over a draft treaty to replace the failed EU Constitution.
Angela Merkel met Polish President Lech Kaczynski three times in 12 hours, in a bid to overcome objections to planned changes to the EU voting system.
The UK has also threatened to veto new rules to run the 27-member bloc.
Diplomats say there are signs of movement at the EU summit in Brussels, but tough negotiations are continuing.
The original treaty perished when Dutch and French voters rejected it in 2005.
'Red lines'
The German chancellor, who holds the EU presidency until the end of June, has held one-on-one meetings with the leaders of Poland, the UK, the Netherlands and Czech Republic, in a bid to overcome objections to how the EU should be run in the future.
"We're working hard. The problems are not yet solved but everyone is trying," said Ms Merkel.
AIMS OF THE SUMMIT
To replace, and reduce, the EU constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005
To simplify voting procedures in an expanded EU
To replace the six-month rotating presidency of the EU with a full-time figurehead, chosen by members
A foreign policy supremo to give the EU increased weight on the international stage
Sticking points and objectors
Struggle for scraps of news
Send us your comments
Various solutions have been offered to try to overcome Poland's objections to a new voting system, which Warsaw says would give too much influence to Germany.
There was alarm in some quarters after the Polish president said the reason his country did not have a larger population - and therefore greater voting power - was that so many Poles were killed by Germans in World War II.
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.
Britain also wants to maintain national control over foreign policy, justice and home affairs.
In a last minute complication, the UK and others asked for clarification on why a key reference to the EU's commitment to free competition had been dropped from the draft treaty at the request of the French.
In proposals drafted by Germany, the constitution's commitment to "an internal market where competition is free and undistorted" was shortened to just "an internal market".
French President Nicolas Sarkozy explained that there were 13 references to free market competition in existing EU treaties, so the EU's powers over competition would not be changed, a British spokesman said, adding that Mr Blair was "reassured".
'Fresh crisis'
The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says EU diplomats are sounding more hopeful that they will not have to spend a second night deep in negotiations.
Mark Mardell
The British Government seems none too worried about Mr Sarkozy ripping out references to 'free trade' and 'competition'
BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell
Mardell's thoughts in full
Polish war of words
Q&A: Changing constitution
The Germans are expected to table new proposals. According to one diplomat, there is some optimism a compromise formula could be agreed over dinner, our correspondent says.
The document makes several concessions to EU member states that had opposed key parts of the planned constitution.
It removes any mention of the word "constitution", accepts that the title of EU-wide foreign minister will not be used, and provides countries with a chance to opt out of EU policies in the area of policing and criminal law.
Proposed changes include:
* New voting system to approve decisions
* Full-time president of European Council instead of current system where members take six-month turns
* New foreign affairs head and a smaller commission
Correspondents say failure to reach a deal on the treaty would plunge the EU into a fresh crisis as deep as the one that followed the rejection of the constitution two years ago.
The summit has reached one decision, however: leaders agreed to allow Cyprus and Malta to adopt the European single currency, the euro, beginning in January 2008.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Poland's President Lech Kaczynski
Poland says new voting plans give too much influence to Germany
Germany's chancellor is stepping up efforts to broker a compromise with Poland over a draft treaty to replace the failed EU Constitution.
Angela Merkel met Polish President Lech Kaczynski three times in 12 hours, in a bid to overcome objections to planned changes to the EU voting system.
The UK has also threatened to veto new rules to run the 27-member bloc.
Diplomats say there are signs of movement at the EU summit in Brussels, but tough negotiations are continuing.
The original treaty perished when Dutch and French voters rejected it in 2005.
'Red lines'
The German chancellor, who holds the EU presidency until the end of June, has held one-on-one meetings with the leaders of Poland, the UK, the Netherlands and Czech Republic, in a bid to overcome objections to how the EU should be run in the future.
"We're working hard. The problems are not yet solved but everyone is trying," said Ms Merkel.
AIMS OF THE SUMMIT
To replace, and reduce, the EU constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005
To simplify voting procedures in an expanded EU
To replace the six-month rotating presidency of the EU with a full-time figurehead, chosen by members
A foreign policy supremo to give the EU increased weight on the international stage
Sticking points and objectors
Struggle for scraps of news
Send us your comments
Various solutions have been offered to try to overcome Poland's objections to a new voting system, which Warsaw says would give too much influence to Germany.
There was alarm in some quarters after the Polish president said the reason his country did not have a larger population - and therefore greater voting power - was that so many Poles were killed by Germans in World War II.
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.
Britain also wants to maintain national control over foreign policy, justice and home affairs.
In a last minute complication, the UK and others asked for clarification on why a key reference to the EU's commitment to free competition had been dropped from the draft treaty at the request of the French.
In proposals drafted by Germany, the constitution's commitment to "an internal market where competition is free and undistorted" was shortened to just "an internal market".
French President Nicolas Sarkozy explained that there were 13 references to free market competition in existing EU treaties, so the EU's powers over competition would not be changed, a British spokesman said, adding that Mr Blair was "reassured".
'Fresh crisis'
The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says EU diplomats are sounding more hopeful that they will not have to spend a second night deep in negotiations.
Mark Mardell
The British Government seems none too worried about Mr Sarkozy ripping out references to 'free trade' and 'competition'
BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell
Mardell's thoughts in full
Polish war of words
Q&A: Changing constitution
The Germans are expected to table new proposals. According to one diplomat, there is some optimism a compromise formula could be agreed over dinner, our correspondent says.
The document makes several concessions to EU member states that had opposed key parts of the planned constitution.
It removes any mention of the word "constitution", accepts that the title of EU-wide foreign minister will not be used, and provides countries with a chance to opt out of EU policies in the area of policing and criminal law.
Proposed changes include:
* New voting system to approve decisions
* Full-time president of European Council instead of current system where members take six-month turns
* New foreign affairs head and a smaller commission
Correspondents say failure to reach a deal on the treaty would plunge the EU into a fresh crisis as deep as the one that followed the rejection of the constitution two years ago.
The summit has reached one decision, however: leaders agreed to allow Cyprus and Malta to adopt the European single currency, the euro, beginning in January 2008.
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