British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw said today he doubted that the European Union could resolve the impasse over its proposed constitution in the next six months.
But he sought to put a positive gloss on the collapse of the landmark summit which foundered over a dispute about members' voting rights.
"Life is going to go on despite these difficulties," Mr Straw said. "Given the bloody history of Europe, it is something quite remarkable that people are now resolving their disagreements not by war and conflict but by discussion," he told said on
BBC Television.
From January, Ireland takes over from Italy the rotating presidency of the European Union and Mr Straw, asked to put a time frame on any solution to the constitutional impasse, said: "It could be during the Irishpresidency although I frankly doubt
it."
Mr Straw said he saw no need for Britain to hold a referendum over the issue of the constitution as "The UK was able to achieve (at the summit) virtually everything that it came for."