Poland softened its public tone on the eve of a crucial European
Union summit due to launch negotiations on a reform of the bloc's
institutions but Britain angered its partners by trying to gut
foreign policy provisions.
Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski played down fears that
Warsaw could block agreement on a new treaty to replace the defunct
EU constitution, saying the fact that his twin brother, President
Lech Kaczynski, would attend was a conciliatory sign.
"I would only have gone (to Brussels) if it had been about a
veto. In order to say: we do not agree," Kaczynski told German
daily Bild in an apparent goodwill gesture to Chancellor Angela
Merkel, who will chair the summit today and tomorrow.
Warsaw and Berlin have been at loggerheads over Polish demands
to change the reformed voting system at the heart of the proposed
treaty, which it says gives too much power to big states,
especially Germany, at Poland's expense.
Kaczynski appeared to play down Poland's aim of completely
changing the planned double majority decision-making procedure,
saying: "At the moment, all we want is for a debate about the
voting system to be allowed."
Britain digs in
Diplomats said Britain had meanwhile hardened its stance in
seeking to reduce the role, powers and staff of the proposed EU
foreign minister.
One diplomat said London had made far-reaching last-minute
demands to water down the common European foreign and security
policy.
Britain argues that the rejection of the constitution by Dutch
and French voters in 2005 means the EU should pursue only minimal
changes needed to operate more smoothly.
The diplomat said London demanded that a proposed EU foreign
minister, whose job title would be downgraded, should not chair the
monthly meetings of member states' foreign ministers.
Britain also insisted a planned EU foreign service should be
entirely inter-governmental and not include the 3,500-strong
existing external services of the European Commission, the EU's
executive body, he said.
Nor would the EU foreign minister be allowed to speak on behalf
of the bloc at the United Nations, except with the permission of UN
Security Council members, such as Britain.
(China Daily via agencies June 21, 2007)
