EU voting rights proposal rejected by Spain

SPAIN: Spain has rejected a proposal to resolve differences over proposed changes to European Union voting rights, saying it…

SPAIN: Spain has rejected a proposal to resolve differences over proposed changes to European Union voting rights, saying it falls short of its demands.

Under the proposed EU constitution, decisions in an enlarged Union would be taken by at least half of its member-states, representing at least 60 per cent of the bloc's population.

Spain says that gives too much power to the EU's four biggest nations and makes it almost impossible for it to block legislation without having one of the heavyweights on its side. Spain and Poland are determined to retain voting weights disproportionate to their populations, as agreed under the Nice Treaty in 2000.

A row over the issue, pitting Spain and Poland against France and Germany, led to the collapse of an EU summit in Brussels in December. Under a new idea floated by the EU's Irish presidency, the double majority thresholds would shift to 55 per cent, preventing the EU's biggest three members - Germany, France and Britain - from being able to block a decision on their own.

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That would leave Spain even less able to muster a blocking minority without support from the larger countries.

"Spain is not satisfied with this proposal. If we want to hold on to a position similar to that which we had under the Nice (treaty), with this formula we do not even come near that," a diplomatic said yesterday.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder on Tuesday signalled a willingness to compromise over voting rights in the expanding EU while remaining rigid on the "double majority" principle.

Meanwhile, Europe's "political elites" were blamed yesterday for fears that large numbers of migrants from the 10 new member-states would overwhelm some existing member-states after the new states join on May 1st.

Mr Guenter Verheugen, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, said yesterday that these political elites had stoked populist concerns, leading to restrictions being placed on immigrant labour across the bloc just weeks before enlargement.

"I have said for years that we need to have our citizens on board in this process, it is too late now at the 11th hour. Only now has enlargement become an issue on the front pages of newspapers and in the minds of citizens."

He said the EU's executive Commission and the Parliament had done all they could to educate the public about the consequences of enlargement, but had not been backed by member-states.

"The political elites in the member states should have done more to transmit the essence of this historic project to the citizens and to the people. And I say this with some bitterness because we have repeated this time and again," Mr Verheugen said.