Only one month to wrap up constitution talks

Heads of states are set to have only one month to wrap up the talks on the EU constitution. That will be the situation according to sources of the Irish EU presidency, who have stated that the proposed timetable is to formally restart the talks on 17 May. The plan will be debated at a Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg 26 April, where the Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen is exepected to propose a two day IGC session on 17-18 May, the first formal step to conclude the talks.

At the EU summit on 26 March, the EU leaders unanimously committed themselves to reaching a deal on the Constitution by the EU summit on 17-18 June. The new momentum was created by a change of government in Spain and of the Prime Minister in Poland. The two countries' refusal to compromise on the issue of voting weights in the Council were widely blamed for the breakdown of the Constitution talks at the EU summit in December 2003. The time it has taken for the new governments to actually assume office is the explanation why formal talks have not started earlier.

The proposed Irish timetable will leave the EU with only one more Foreign Affairs council before the June summit deadline. However, the presidency does not rule out an extra meeting of ministers if it is called for. At this stage bilateral contacts are taking place to find a compromise to pave the way for a final deal.