The German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroder, has added his voice to calls for a hard core of EU states to be allowed to integrate more quickly than others, creating a multi-speed Europe before new member-states from central and eastern Europe are allowed to join the EU.
Speaking on French radio yesterday, Mr Schroder said that he would discuss the issue with President Jacques Chirac of France and the Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, at a meeting in Rambouillet near Paris next week.
"We will be talking about flexibility: that means the possibility of some countries to be integrated more quickly than others," he said.
Mr Jospin said this week that he favours more flexibility and the German Foreign Minister, Mr Joschka Fischer, is expected to outline Germany's proposals in a speech in Berlin tomorrow.
At present, all 15 EU states must approve any move by a smaller group of member-states to integrate more closely. But as the EU prepares to reform its institutions in advance of enlargement to the east, a number of member-states want to allow a "hard core" to press ahead with integration without the approval of the others.
Among the states favouring closer integration are Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, France and Germany. A second group of states, led by Britain and the Scandinavian countries, opposes any further dilution of national sovereignty and rejects the idea of a multi-speed EU.
Germany regards Ireland as belonging to the latter, more sceptical camp but Irish officials insist that, while Dublin wants to retain the requirement for unanimous approval of new sub-groups within the EU, the Government does not oppose flexibility in principle.
Mr Schroder yesterday dismissed reports that the Franco-German relationship, which has been seen as the engine of European integration, has stalled since his government came to power two years ago.
"We work very closely together. We have no problems with one another. There are no weak periods. The engine is running. It is not stalling but turns around and is fed with fuel every day," he said.
Austria's hopes for an early end to sanctions imposed against its right-wing government by the 14 other EU member-states received a blow when Mr Schroder said he saw no reason to lift them.
"There is no reason to change stance. In any case, Germany does not intend to take any initiatives in this direction," he said.
Austria claims that six EU states, including Ireland, want to suspend the sanctions that were imposed in protest against the inclusion of the far-right Freedom Party in Austria's government. Although the Freedom Party's most controversial figure, Mr Jorg Haider, has resigned as leader, France, Belgium and Germany show no sign of softening their support for sanctions.
Mr Schroder's remarks came a day after a leading member of his Social Democrats, Mr Hans-Ulrich Klose, said it was unfair to continue punishing Austria for comments made in the past by Mr Haider. Mr Klose, who is chairman of the Bundestag's foreign affairs committee, pointed out that the EU needed Austria to help prepare for eastward expansion and reconstruction efforts in the Balkans.
Germany's opposition Christian Democrats and Liberal Free Democrats favour lifting the sanctions but Mr Schroder made clear yesterday that his government was not prepared to take the lead in any such move.
"I am Chancellor of Germany and my task is to make sure that at an international level my country is not suspected of nurturing any sympathies for the position of Mr Haider," he said.
