Brussels, 09/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - The future of the Constitutional Treaty was not on the agenda of the European Council (it is to be the main theme of the June summit) but the question was nonetheless raised by some of the heads of state and government during press conferences.
Thus, Polish President Lech Kaczynski repeated that his country was sticking to the rules of decision convened in the Nice Treaty and was therefore opposed to the “double majority” set out in the draft Constitutional Treaty. “The Nice system is very advantageous for Poland. It is natural that each country should defend the system that is best for it”, the Polish president said. He also felt that the “Union is able to work without a constitutional treaty”. Furthermore, Mr Kazcynski called for a reference to be made in the Constitutional Treaty, and in the Berlin Declaration, to Europe's “Christian roots”.
French President Jacques Chirac, who was no doubt attending his last European Council, also spoke of the Constitution during his press conference - in order to say his mea culpa. Thus, he said he was “very sorry that he did not, perhaps, do everything possible” to avoid the French no-vote in May 2005. It was a “bad thing” for France and for Europe, Mr Chirac said, adding that the French had been “misled” - they had been promised a Plan B but those who promised it “knew very well that they were lying”.
Italy's head of government, Romano Prodi, said he was not making the name “Constitution” a matter of principle, as long as the substance of the Constitutional Treaty were safeguarded. (hb)