30/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - The CDU/CSU party, the main partner in the “grand coalition” governing Germany, is divided over the consequences that the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty will have on EU enlargement. While Chancellor Angela Merkel is against any further accession - including that of Croatia - until the Lisbon Treaty has come into force (see her statements a the last European Council, EUROPE 9688), the CSU which governs in the Land of Bavaria is calling for Croatia to be allowed to join quickly, irrespective of what happens with the Lisbon Treaty. The EU certainly needs the institutional improvements that the Lisbon Treaty would have brought, “but it won't make much difference if the 27 members are joined by Croatia,” even without the new treaty, said Bavarian Deputy Minister-President Günter Beckstein. (H.B./transl.rt)