THE Dutch EU Presidency yesterday got a firm rebuff from member states over its proposals to reduce members' entitlement to a commissioner after enlargement.
Diplomatic sources also said they believed a consensus was emerging that writing into the European treaty a timetable for the merger of the EU and WEU would not be possible. However, much argument is likely over the strength of the text expressing an aspiration for such a merger.
Ministers or their representatives from up to 10 of the small member states, meeting here on the treaty changing Inter Governmental Conference, also said if a treaty reference was made to a review of commissioners in the future, it must not prejudice the outcome of such review. Ireland is currently even opposed even to a review clause.
The Dutch presidency had put on the table two proposals for the size of the Commission, at 15 or 20, both accepting that the principle of one country, one commissioner must go as the Union enlarges. The smaller countries, however, say this issue is non negotiable and, given that enlargement will probably not take place for several years, does not need to be resolved now. They say the Dutch presidency has badly misunderstood the outcome of the last foreign ministers' discussion on the issue.
A majority does, however, appear to be emerging in favour of a reform of the voting system in the Council of Ministers. The favoured option is for a system of double majority whereby a weighted vote would also have to correspond to 60 per cent of the Union's population.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the special IGC summit, expected to be called for May 23rd, will not be held in Maastricht but in the coastal resort of Noordwijk. The formal announcement of the meeting has been delayed until after the British election and for consultations with the French, whose election's first round is on May 25th. Mr Tony Blair and President Jacques Chirac are believed to have been unhappy with the political symbolism of returning to Maastricht.
The Italians have also complicated the IGC with a strong hint that they may have difficulties ratifying the Amsterdam treaty if it is too minimalist. The comments of Foreign Minister, Mr Lamberto Dini, are being interpreted as a hint that Italy could create difficulties if it is not treated sympathetically on monetary union.
While stressing his commitment to a strict interpretation of the Maastricht criteria, Mr Dini has said the timetable for parliamentary ratification of the treaty would coincide with the decision on who would be in EMU from the start. The hints are somewhat oblique, but as one Italian journalist put it, "such interpretation may appear Machiavellian, but in Italy that's as clear as it gets".
