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EU Getting Another Year on Constitution
 The European Union agreed Saturday to give itself another year to sort out the impasse over its troubled constitution and build confidence in the bloc's plans for further expansion. EU leaders have spent the last 12 months in a self-imposed "period of reflection" after French and Dutch voters overwhelmingly rejected the constitution in referendums a year ago. Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot said the EU envoys meeting in Vienna agreed that although Europeans remain positive about the grouping, "we need to extend the reflection period" by another year to settle doubts about the charter and the future of the bloc.The constitution was designed to reorganize bloc's decision-making and raise its profile as a global player by establishing an EU president and foreign minister. But all 25 member states had to approve it for it to take effect. Bot suggested a new EU treaty or constitution be in place by 2009. He reiterated, however, that the Dutch government would not put the charter to a popular referendum or a parliamentary vote. Posted by: Fred 2006-05-28 |
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