European Union foreign ministers open formal talks today on a treaty to reform the bloc's institutions amid uncertainty over Poland's intentions.
The Portuguese presidency of the 27-nation bloc said last week it had indications that Poland would stick to a deal on a mandate for the reform treaty agreed at an EU summit last month and not seek to reopen the key compromise on the voting system.
The ink on the summit pact was barely dry when Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski challenged the outcome, insisting Poland had won the right for groups of countries just short of a blocking minority to postpone EU decisions for up to two years.
Portugal is hoping to rush through the legal work of turning that political deal into a treaty, aiming to conclude in mid-October, although some EU diplomats say that is ambitious.
The treaty, replacing the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, provides for a long-term EU president and foreign policy chief, a simpler and more democratic voting system and more say for the European and national parliaments.
Ministers will also discuss how to take forward Kosovo's bid for independence from Serbia after Russian opposition forced the West to shelve a UN resolution last week.
They will begin planning for an EU security mission in eastern Chad to help the United Nations protect refugees from Sudan's Darfur region.