Leaders of the European Union reached an agreement early Saturday on the draft of a new EU Constitution after breaking a deadlock in talks with Poland.
"We are going to open an intergovernmental conference and finish it before the end of the year, when Portugal's chairmanship ends," Manuel Lobo Antunes said. Portugal takes over the rotating presidency in the 27-nation organization July 1.
The previous treaty establishing the Constitution was signed in Rome in 2004 and was in the process of ratification. However, France and the Netherlands refused to ratify it following overwhelming no-votes in referendums.
That provoked some countries to postpone ratification of the document, which would have come into effect in November 2006. So far, 18 member states have ratified the treaty either at the parliamentary level or by referendum.
The new draft will leave out EU symbols, such as a single European flag or anthem. It will retain provisions on the presidency, but the post of foreign minister has been abolished.
The "double majority" method of voting in the Council of Ministers will come into use in 2014 with a transition period until 2017. That allows legislation to be passed if 55% of EU nations representing 65% of the EU population support a measure. Any legislative initiative can be blocked by at least four EU members.
Poland was one of the key opponents to the draft of the constitutional treaty. The country objected to the method of voting, saying it weakened the positions of average-sized countries in favor of the U.K., France and Germany. - RIA Novosti
