European Union foreign ministers today resume talks on Europe's new constitution, with the aim of delivering a final charter by mid-June.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, presented a new tightened agenda to resolve key disputes among the 25 current and accession EU governments on a draft text that comprises 465 articles.
The talks collapsed last December when Italy led the negotiations. Ireland, as EU president, took over in January, promising to assess chances of resuming the talks so the constitution may take effect in 2005.
The chances improved with the defeat of Spain's former conservative government in March elections. Spain and Poland vetoed new EU voting rules at the time.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, wants a final deal at a June 17th-18th EU summit in Brussels.
Under that scenario, the EU foreign ministers would agree today to start a final round of talks on May 17th, officials said.
The constitution must be ratified by EU legislatures or in referendums. At least seven states are to hold votes and passage is far from assured.
AP