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EU Summit Crisis

Poland Rejects Compromise Proposal

By Severin Weiland in Brussels

False start in Brussels: In the dispute over the EU treaty Polish President Lech Kaczynski has rejected the first compromise suggested by his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, and has made a counter proposal. Merkel's famed diplomatic skills will be needed if a deal is to be reached.

The journalists in the packed press room laughed. "It is good news, isn't it," said Angela Merkel, but smiled along with everyone else anyway. The German chancellor had just announced that Malta and Cyprus are to join the euro zone.

That was the only tangible result of the EU summit on Thursday evening. The heads of state and government had already decided on the entry of the new euro aspirants at a short meeting before dinner.

They all knew that everything else would take longer. A lot longer.

The real problems still await a solution. The delegations in Brussels had already attempted to tackle them the night before. Technical and political details were grappled with during numerous bilateral discussions.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy presented his Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski with a suggestion to end the dispute over voting rights in the EU. Sarzoky made a "technical proposal of the Ioannina type," his spokesman David Martinon said after an hour-long meeting between Kaczynski, Sarkozy, Merkel and the Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus.

The so-called Ioannina compromise is named after an informal meeting of foreign ministers on March 29, 1994 on the Greek island of Ioannina. It would allow a group of countries who had almost enough votes to block a decision to have that decision re-examined. The Poles are particularly concerned about the planned "double majority" system of making decisions in the Council of the European Union, which would lessen their influence.

After the meeting Kaczynski said the situation was turning out to be "very difficult." The discussions are to continue on Friday morning. According to sources close to the Polish delegation, the suggestion didn’t go far enough. The Poles are reported to have made a counter-proposal.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the delegations had a "long way to go." But it could already become clear on Friday if the German presidency can make a success of the EU summit.

At dinner on Thursday, the 27 heads of state and government got an initial feel for the problems. Merkel had invited them to dine in the Justus Lipsius building, where the Council of the European Union is based. On the menu was Arctic char rollmops with Frankfurt green sauce and wild cabbage salad as well as beef roulade, filled with artichokes, with glazed carrots and potato-chive puree. For dessert there was a cold sweet soup of sour cherries with rice pudding. A German white Burgundy and Portuguese red wine was served with the meal. The atmosphere had been "good and open," said Merkel afterwards.

It wasn't characterized by threats, she said, rather by an atmosphere of understanding. Barroso was a bit more forthcoming. "The many contacts I had today confirmed to me a deal is still possible -- but it will certainly be very difficult. Very tough." It was a dinner, Barroso went on, but "we can describe it as an starter. The main course is tomorrow."

Indeed, it was difficult to hear anything more than diplo-speak on Thursday evening from Merkel and Barroso. Summit diplomacy is sometimes little more than the art of keeping people talking. But the lack of substance surprised nobody. Few had thought there would be a breakthrough on the first day of the two-day meeting.

Even Merkel herself was realistic about the possibility of a quick resolution to the current stalemate. The concepts and ideas floating around the summit are not yet ripe, she said. "We haven't yet reached that status," she said. "All concerns and requests have been collected."

The participants are preparing for a long day. It is very likely that, should a breakthrough be achieved, it will only happen in the wee hours of Saturday morning. The summit looks set to become a game of endurance and stamina. For now, the only thing on the agenda for Friday is lunch at 1:00 p.m. Aside from that, there will be numerous bilateral meetings.

But heading into the day, positions seem to be as immovable as ever. Poland is still maintaining its rejection of the "double majority" voting procedure called for by the current draft treaty -- which would require a majority of at least 55 percent of EU member states, representing 65 percent of the bloc's population.

Just as difficult, though, is the British position. The UK is opposed to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the creation of an EU foreign minister, and a formulation that would foresee EU law superseding national law. In addition, British Prime Minister Tony Blair wants to hang on to his veto when it comes to EU justice and domestic policy.

It is Merkel's last EU summit as president. As of July, the office will be held by Portugal. Hence the protocol for the reception of the heads of state and government on late Thursday afternoon in the Council of the European Union building could not have been more symbolic. Poland's still-intractable president Lech Kaczynski was the first person welcomed by Merkel and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. There was a short conversation, with friendly words and looks. Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga, on the other hand, behaved remarkably coolly, practically scurrying past the two Germans.

The two Britons -- who are also tough negotiators -- arrived sometime in the middle of the welcome ceremony. But Tony Blair looked as if he was at a family gathering: Smiling as always, he kissed the chancellor on both cheeks.

British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett, however, only shook Merkel's hand. Just the day before, Beckett had publicly criticized the bad preparations for the summit.

France's Nicolas Sarkozy, who wants a success at the summit, arrived last. He too greeted Merkel warmly, while Steinmeier enthusiastically welcomed French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

In the evening, journalists witnessed a relaxed chancellor. The question now, she said, was how to bring the "opinions of the majority and the desires of individuals" into a "sensible balance."

She appeared optimistic. There is still no agreement, she admitted, but the "broad political will" to achieve one is there. Whether the chancellor is right will be revealed today.