Optimisme over voortgang Grondwet-onderhandelingen (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Following an afternoon of initial discussion on the Constitution, EU leaders did not reach consensus on the overall text with some of the old problems still being raised.

However, diplomats present at the meeting said the language used by governments was much more moderate than has been the case to date.

One source said that many countries started their intervention with "We would prefer" rather than baldly stating what they want.

Reflecting this cautious optimism, Irish prime minister and current head of the EU, Bertie Ahern said "I think we're closing in on agreement".

More specifically he said that Dublin's proposals on the size of the commission - that it be reduced to 18 members by 2014 - "looks like being accepted".

The proposals to evenutually raise the number of seats in the European Parliament as well as the minimum number of seats - which affects only the smallest member states -has also been accepted.

Mr Ahern conceded that the voting issue "remains more difficult". While France and Germany accepted the presidency proposals on the thresholds for the new voting system (that a decision would be agreed when supported by 55% of member states representing 65% of EU citizens), several small and medium states continued to oppose the percentages.

But, according to sources, the Irish Presidency is to publish another paper on Friday on the remaining open issues and the voting thresholds of 55%-65% are to remain.

Economic governance issues continued to cause disagreement. Germany, Italy, Poland and Greece following their recent letter on the same issue pushed for the Commission to have less power over implementing the rules governing the eurozone.

However, there was agreement on several issues. A ninety-page document submitted by the Irish Presidency on what they consider "closed issues" remained - apart from a very few issues - undisputed.

The document included articles on justice and home affairs, social security issues and common foreign and security issues.

The Irish prime minister's appraisal that agreement is getting nearer seemed to be backed up by EU leaders.

Miguel Angel Moratinos, the Spanish foreign minister, said "there's a certain degree of optimism".

He added that there is a general consensus that "we're not able to leave Brussels without a constitutional text".

French President Jacques Chirac said there were "no insurmountable sticking points"