EU leaders are struggling to finalise a constitution and choose a new European Commission chief, at a second day of talks in Brussels.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern told reporters that a "handful of issues" had to be settled before the EU's first constitution could be agreed.

But correspondents say there is still a risk of stalemate, with disagreements over the formula for majority voting.

Mr Ahern said no-one had enough support yet for the job of commission head.

There were signs on Friday that the search for a successor to current President Romano Prodi was becoming increasingly polarised, with Britain on one side and the French and Germans on the other.

France and Germany have backed Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, but Britain has been outspoken in opposing him on the grounds that he would be too eager to make the EU more federal.

Among other candidates, a UK commissioner, Chris Patten, has been proposed by the conservative group in the European Parliament, known as the European People's Party (EPP).

However, France opposes Mr Patten's candidacy.

French President Jacques Chirac told reporters that he did not think it was a good idea to have a candidate from "a country which doesn't take part in all European policies".

Mr Chirac also said the EU had to "avoid being blocked by a single country" - a remark seen by observers as a veiled attack on Britain for its threat to veto the constitution's text if it cedes power to Brussels in key areas.

Britain hit back with a statement from Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman that "it was unfortunate that President Chirac chose to attack our position before the negotiations had begun".

Mr Blair's spokesman also attacked Germany for trying to link a deal on the constitution with the issue of the presidency, saying: "We are operating in a Europe of 25, not a Europe of six or two or one."

At the same time, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder reaffirmed his support for Mr Verhofstadt, calling him "a European through and through who can do the job".

Mr Schroeder dismissed the EPP's backing for Mr Patten as "party-political power tactics".

Mr Prodi is stepping down as head of the commission when his five-year term ends in October.

On Thursday, the 25 leaders of the newly expanded EU argued well into the night in an effort to agree on his successor.

The talks failed to break the deadlock, with Mr Ahern warning of "a long day... again" when they reconvened.

Voting rights

On Friday, EU leaders resumed efforts to reach agreement on the text of the first EU constitution.

At the EU's December summit in Brussels, Poland and Spain blocked an agreement on voting rights because they would have lost more favourable deals secured previously.

The political situation in both countries changed recently - Spain has a new government and Poland is in the grip of a political crisis.

However, a group of about 10 smaller EU states, including Finland and Austria, say they will reject new proposals for the EU's system of taking decisions.

The new plan calls for measures to be approved when supported by states that make up 55% of the states in the EU and 65% of the total population.

The small states think that formula gives too much influence to countries with large populations.

This dispute risks becoming a repeat of the stand-off which led to the failure of the constitution talks last time, the BBC's William Horsley reports.

+++++ This is getting very intriguing, Monsieur Chirac took some nice pot shots about Britain being out of the Euro and the Shengen treaty on free borders, while vehemently supporting the nomination of the federalist, anti-American Belgian PM Guy Verhofstadt to the post of E.U. President. As I sit back and watch this I simply wonder about Europe. France in conjuction with Germany clearly want some European superstate intent and bent on a collision course with America, God help us all. Amazing that what Napoleon, Hitler and many other despots couldn't do Eurocrats from the likes of France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg are close to accomplishing.

P.S By the way Drug_Tito this should make you happy Croatia is named candidate for EU, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3818485.stm be careful though Tito you are getting involved in a Franco-German pact at the end of the day.

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Last edited by NYCTrancefan on Jun-18-2004 at 11:42