21/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) is proposing a “simple compromise” to heads of state and governments of the Union, meeting in Brussels for the European Council. This is aimed at settling the problem of vote weighting at the Council, and Poland and the Czech Republic's opposition to “double majority” included in the Constitutional Treaty, which is supported by the 25 other member states (EUROPE 9450). Given that the real difference between double majority and the mechanism proposed by Poland (based on the square root of the number of inhabitants of member states) is extremely minimal, CEPS is suggesting that double majority is maintained, accompanied by a “safety clause” that would enable any member state to request a recalculation of the votes according to the square root formula (during the first two years after the entry into force of the new treaty). In the event of a different result, the Council would need to confirm it after a given deadline, in order for it to be validated. (hb)