Polen zou kunnen instemmen met nieuw systeem van stemwegingen (en)

Poland has given a further signal that it may compromise on the crucial issue of the voting system in the EU Constitution.

In an interview with Radio TOK FM, Polish deputy prime minister Jozef Oleksy hinted that there is a possibility for a compromise based on the proposed "double-majority" voting system.

This new system, which would see a minimum number of member states representing a minimum amount of the EU's population needed to see a decision taken, was the main reason why talks collapsed on the Constitution last December.

The system is strongly supported by Germany - the country with the biggest population in the EU.

Mr Oleksy denied that the `Nice or die' level of debate in the Constitution was the official stance of the government in Warsaw - under the Nice Treaty, Poland has a relatively beneficial vote weighting.

However, the deputy prime minister would not go further than that. He insisted that Poland has not officially changed its position to wholehearted support for the double majority system.

"We maintain for now the position that was presented in Brussels; openness for a compromise does not yet mean the method has been chosen", said Mr Oleksy.

Meanwhile, at a press conference in Dublin today, Irish prime minister and current head of the EU Bertie Ahern underlined his support for the new voting system.

"I understand the benefits of a double majority system. The reason that I'm prepared to move to a double majority, as are the vast majority, is because we see the difficulty that will be created if we don't find a compromise".