Uitslag Spaanse verkiezingen geeft nieuwe hoop voor Europese grondwet (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The new socialist-led government in Spain has indicated an immediate softening of Madrid's tough stance on the European Constitution.

Speaking on Monday (15 March) to radio station Cadena Ser, prime minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said that he wants to "speed up" the finishing of talks on the Constitution.

He said he believes that Europe can quickly come to an agreement on a "sensible power balance" for the enlarged EU.

Describing the Europe Union as the natural platform for Spanish foreign policy, Mr Zapatero signalled a dramatic shift in policy from the Aznar administration that was yesterday voted out of power.

"Europe must return to seeing us as an amiable country, a country which is pro-European, a country that does not divide, not between old Europe nor new Europe" he said.

"My impression is that yesterday's result perhaps caused surprise in Europe, but very much satisfaction", he added.

For the last six months, Spain i, along with Poland, has been holding out against a proposed new system of voting weights in the Constitution - over which talks eventually fell in December.

The new system proposes that decisions be taken on the basis of a double majority of both EU population (60%) and member states (50%) - and would leave both Madrid and Warsaw relatively less better off than they are now.

Under the Nice Treaty, both countries have 27 votes in the Council of Ministers where EU decisions are taken, just two less than Germany which has almost twice the population.

A last minute rush?

Spain's new position may herald a rush of new deals and meetings to get the Constitution talks back on track - particularly as Germany, which clashed with Poland and Spain over the matter, publicly softened its stance last week.

Warsaw has also been giving more conciliatory signals.

Moreover, Irish EU Presidency officials had been waiting until after the Spanish elections for some movement on the talks - and now things have moved more quickly than anticipated.

Germany, France and Poland

The Spanish position will also influence an important meeting between German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and French President Jacques Chirac on Tuesday (16 March) to discuss the Constitution.

EU diplomats have said that Paris' position is the most difficult to read.

Irish prime minister and current head of the EU will also meet Mr Chirac next week in what is set to be the last important bilateral before all EU leaders meet on 25-26 March.

At this summit, the Irish EU Presidency will decide whether the political will is there to reconvene meetings to finalise the Constitution.