Thursday

28th Mar 2024

Verhofstadt sees small chances for EU constitution revival

Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt has indicated he does not believe the EU constitution can be saved, while proposing to hold special summits of eurozone leaders as an alternative.

In an interview with FT Deutschland, the Belgian leader said he backs further ratification of the EU constitution - but primarily for tactical reasons.

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He indicated further ratification would press EU governments to confront the bloc’s institutional problems the constitution was designed to address.

"I believe it is right to continue ratification. Not because I think the chance is big that the constitution can still be saved. But ratification increases the pressure on us to come up with something on the future of Europe," Mr Verhofstadt said.

Belgium itself last month became the 14th EU country to ratify the EU constitution, but Mr Verhofstadt is at the same time promoting closer co-operation of the 12 eurozone countries as an alternative to the charter.

The Belgian leader indicated "The future of the EU constitution is uncertain. I do not see how we can reconcile the enlargement of the community with its deepening if we don't use the eurozone."

He said he hoped the leaders of the eurozone would convene the first time before the next EU spring summit in March 2007, with cooperation within the eurozone currently being limited to meetings of finance ministers.

Mr Verhofstadt's call for the eurozone becoming a forum for deeper integration is in line with his recent book "The United States of Europe."

The book proposes a two-speed Europe, where a nucleus of the 12 EU states that have adopted the euro would press ahead with closer intergration, while a looser outer circle of the "Organisation of European States" would exist alongside it.

The eurozone nucleus, which would carry the prestigious title "United States of Europe" would be open to further expansion at any time to states adopting the euro at a later stage.

Ukraine slams grain trade restrictions at EU summit

Restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU could translate into military losses in their bid to stop Russia's war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned EU leaders during their summit in Brussels on Thursday.

Difficult talks ahead on financing new EU defence spending

With the war in Ukraine showing no signs of ending any time soon, EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday (21 and 22 March) to discuss how to boost the defence capabilities of Ukraine and of the bloc itself.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

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