Pro-EU constitution states discuss tactics
By Honor Mahony and Mark Beunderman
The 18 member states that have already ratified the EU constitution are gathering on Friday (26 January) to discuss how to swing the political debate around to their side of the fence, with the nine countries who have stopped the ratification process continuing to steal the political limelight.
The 18 countries, plus Ireland and Portugal, who also consider themselves "friends of the constitution" as the gathering is being called, are meeting in Madrid to set out political tactics, look at elements of the constitution that could be altered, and challenge non-EU constitution states to come clean on what they want from the process.
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"We have to know why the others have difficulties and where their problems lie," Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told Germany's FT Deutschland ahead of the meeting.
The non-constitution states include France and the Netherlands who rejected the text in referendums in 2005 and the UK, Poland and the Czech Republic, generally seen as sceptical about the weighty 400-plus article treaty.
Analysts expect that the delicate first part of the constitution - dealing with the objectives and aims of the EU as well as institutional questions - is likely to be defended by the "yes" states.
The room for manoeuvre is likely to be with the second and third parts of the document - the charter of fundamental rights and the detailed policy section, which broadly puts together all the EU's treaties.
Speaking about the meeting, Luxembourg Europe minister Nicolas Schmidt told EUobserver: "We won't have any formal declaration but I think we hope to end up with some generally shared principles."
What's in a name?
But there are already some indications of where there could be "flexibility" as one official put it.
Giving the document a whole new name might be an option that gathers support, with the term "European Constitution" proving a pyschological step too far for several countries, particularly Britain.
"I think the key issue as I understand it in both France and the Netherlands - and that is also an area where there is some considerable controversy in the United Kingdom - is the use of the word constitution," UK Europe minister Geoff Hoon told this website.
"I certainly don't think that was helpful," he added.
Another part of the constitution that might get put in the reject pile is the so-called "symbols" of the EU, laid out in the treaty as the flag, motto, anthem and Europe day.
To some, such as the Netherlands, this looks too much like statehood.
"I have understood what is behind that - it is the fear of European states or some would even say superstate. This is an idea which is worth discussion," said Mr Schmit.
Controversial meeting
But putting the content of the meeting aside, the very fact that it is taking place is already a point of contention for some.
UK liberal MEP and constitutional expert Andrew Duff believes that it will divide member states too much into entrenched ratified and non-ratified camps and also fears it will expose deep rifts in the 18-member "yes" camp.
Meanwhile, the German presidency is reportedly also not a big fan of the initiative, having already put pressure on Luxembourg to cancel a general meeting next month between all member states to discuss ratification of the text.
Berlin fears the meeting will run counter to its plans to revive the EU constitution, exposing rifts between governments too early and too publicly, possibly damaging the mood for reconciliation and compromise.