EU constitution remains in deep freeze

European leaders will re-launch Europe with a political declaration on the “EU model” to be unveiled on the bloc’s 50th birthday next March.

The EU constitution will remain in the deep freeze for another year while Europe’s governments press on without it.

The Austrian EU presidency has set the next rendez-vous to discuss the EU constitution until June 2007, putting off any final decision until late 2008.

“There is currently no absolute consensus as to how we should deliver something for the population as a whole,” current holder of the EU presidency, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel said.

In the meantime, the EU will push existing treaties to the limit to focus on a “Europe of results” before moving to a new treaty, that is likely to drop the C-word.

“We are moving away from rhetoric and down to practicalities,” Schüssel insisted late on Thursday night.

Governments will also plan a charm offensive using the EU’s 50th birthday on March 25 2007 to highlight Europe’s benefits to citizens.

“On the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome there will be a political statement describing the EU model. This will serve as guidance for us to later develop the constitution,” Schüssel declared.

A June 2007 summit under the leadership of a German EU presidency will consider a menu of post-constitution options fully two years after French and Dutch referendum rejections.

April and May next year will see national elections in both France and the Netherlands, helping to clear the way for a new EU settlement.

“The outcome of this [June 2007] examination will serve as the basis for further decisions on how to continue the reform process, it being understood that the necessary steps to that effect will have been taken during the second semester of 2008 at the latest,” a summit statement will say.

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