A referendum in Ireland proposing the country's ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon has been rejected by the electorate despite near universal support from the country's political establishment.

Portugal's secretary of state said Thursday that an intergovernmental conference on a draft EU agreement would begin its work in Lisbon July 23-24.

European Union leaders have agreed on a blueprint for a treaty to replace the bloc's failed constitution. The announcement early this morning in Brussels came after Poland dropped its objections over voting procedures within the EU.

The first day of a European summit, which opened in Brussels Thursday, showed no signs of progress in breaking the deadlock towards a new EU Constitution.

European Union leaders have so far failed to reach agreement on how to proceed with constitutional reforms. Poland's demand for a redistribution of power remains the main stumbling block, although Britain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands also attacked what they feel are attempts to take EU integration too far.

Poland is showing signs of softening its resistance to a new draft European Union treaty, on the eve of a crucial EU summit. Germany, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, is expected to present the new document to the summit in Brussels Thursday and Friday.

On the eve of a two-day European Union summit in Brussels, the bloc's quest for a new treaty to improve the bloc's functioning hangs in the balance. Poland says it will block the talks unless it is given more power in EU votes -- and Germany less.

Poland is refusing to drop its demand for reform of the European Union's voting system - a position that could derail this week's EU summit, aimed at reviving plans for a new European constitution.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will visit European Union headquarters on Wednesday to have a discussion about revised plans for the EU constitution which was rejected by French voters two years ago.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was expected in Warsaw on Friday for talks with Poland's president and prime minister on the future of the European Union and its constitutional treaty.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the front runner on the presidential race of France, said Wednesday that the EU constitution was dead and the 27-country bloc needed a better president.

European Union leaders today adopted a 50th anniversary declaration setting out the achievements of the 27-nation bloc and the challenges facing it.