Delegates drafting the European Union's first constitution continued last-minute haggling today about a final text that could introduce sweeping changes asto how the EU is run.
The 105-member panel drafting the EU charter is expected to hold marathon talks into the night in a bid to meet tomorrow's midday deadline.
The chairman of the European Convention, former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing said tomorrow's session would be the last before he is to present the first two parts of the 462-article constitution to EU leaders inGreece on June 19-20.
The Convention will finalise the last part of the constitution in July.
Many members, including Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio and her German counterpart, Mr Joschka Fischer, yesterday tried to change the text to their liking.
Others asked for clarifications as to how much power a proposed EU president would have.
Britain's chief negotiator, Mr Peter Hain, warned however that reopening finished articles would threaten getting a final agreement in time. "If you start reopening all of this we are going to walk away on Friday with a failure," Mr Hain said.
Unresolved issues include whether to extend majority voting to such issues as foreign policy, taxation, immigration and asylum.
AP