Polen wensen minderheidsveto, Britten akkoord met Europese aanklager (en)

Just as the contentious issue of voting rights in EU Constitution talks seemed to be overcome by the widely agreed formula of a "double majority", Poland has now tabled a new demand which is set to further complicate talks.

The Polish interim Prime Minister Marek Belka told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on Sunday (30 May) that Poland has "in principle" accepted the double majority system, but that this should be complemented by the possibility of a veto of EU decisions by states representing a fifth of the EU population.

The double majority system requires a majority of both the 25 EU states and of their total population for EU laws to pass - the percentages of countries and people needed to form the majority of votes still being under discussion.

The draft Constitution proposes that a decision should be taken when supported by 50% of member states representing 60% of the EU population.

However, Mr Belka told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung that this would be "not enough" for Poland.

"A minority of countries should be able to raise an objection in important matters", he stated.

He added: "This is not only about Poland. This is about a minority which would comprise - let's say - 20 percent of the EU population."

According to the Polish Prime Minister, his proposal should not merely be interpreted as a veto.

"The question is what this so-called veto should achieve. It should not be a blockade, but the trigger for a real and serious consultation mechanism".

However, as Mr Belka's proposal would make it much easier for Poland - a country of 38 million inhabitants - to block EU decisions, it is unlikely to be endorsed by Germany and France.

Thus, the plan is set to further complicate talks on the EU Constitution which the Irish EU Presidency wants to conclude on the EU summit on 17-18 June.

UK softens position on EU prosecutor

At the same time, a more positive prospect for the Constitution has emerged as the British government has signalled it will soften its position on one of its "red line" issues - the proposed EU public prosecutor.

According to the Financial Times, quoting British officials, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is willing to back a European Public Prosecutor with wide powers in fields such as cross-border crime and terrorism.

Initially, the UK had objected to an EU prosecutor with broadly defined tasks, pleading instead for a mandate confined to financial crime against the EU budget.

Justice and home affairs is seen as one of the UK's "red line" issues.

But one official told the FT: "The European public prosecutor has never been a "red line" for us."