EU/President's address:The president of the European Parliament warned EU leaders not to renege on their commitment to the EU Constitution yesterday as several states signalled their opposition to the draft treaty.
Hans Gert Pöttering, who is attending his first European council since being elected president, said there should be a determination to safeguard the substance of the treaty.
"All the union's heads of state and government, by signing the treaty, made plain their commitment to it. Changes of government in some countries are no reason to renege on that commitment," he said, referring to Poland, which he will visit later today. "Our determination to safeguard the substance of the constitutional treaty must be unwavering."
Mr Pöttering's remarks followed a meeting with Polish president Lech Kaczynski, who outlined his opposition to key elements of the EU constitution, which French and Dutch voters rejected in referendums.
"The voting system is a problem for Poland as every country wants to defend its interests. We prefer the Nice Treaty voting system," said Mr Kaczynski.
Poland is one of several member states which are opposing plans by the German presidency of the EU to salvage as much of the constitution as possible in a new institutional agreement.
Warsaw is concerned that the "double majority rule", under which most decisions would require the support of 55 per cent of member states with at least 65 per cent of the EU population, would weaken its position at the Council of Ministers.
But its concerns are not limited to the voting system, which the vast majority of the other 27 EU member states continue to support, said Mr Kaczynski.
"I told him the problem is wider than the voting system [ in the constitution], it is about over-regulation in the EU constitution. It is a problem about wider national sovereignty and EU sovereignty."
Britain and the Czech Republic have also signalled their opposition to the constitution and are seeking an agreement that merely tweaks the EU decision-making system.
France and The Netherlands also want to radically overhaul the draft constitution, which continues to be strongly supported by the 20 EU states that have ratified it so far.
EU leaders also held their first discussions on the Berlin declaration, a text designed to celebrate the values, past successes and future direction of the union. The German presidency hopes it will create momentum towards a deal this year.