Derek Scally
in Berlin
The leaders of Germany and Spain have failed to resolve their differences of opinion over voting rights in the EU constitution ahead of this weekend's meeting of EU leaders in Rome.
Mr José Maria Aznar, the Spanish Prime Minister, said he remained opposed to the new voting system proposed in the draft constitution and backed by Germany, arguing that it favoured larger member-states.
The German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schröder, said he would be pushing for EU leaders to agree the existing version of the treaty as drafted by the former French president, Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.
"Anyone who unpicks this package is obliged to make sure that a better compromise is reached," Mr Schröder said, adding that it was something they would have a tough time doing.
Spain is pushing for a retention of the compromise agreed in Nice three years ago where each member-state would be given a vote at the Council of Ministers as well as a European Commissioner.
Spain and Poland, which have voting power almost equal to that of larger states, would be among the biggest losers from a change in voting rules.
Mr Aznar said leaders at the Inter-Governmental Conference would need to clarify and reach agreement on several unclear aspects of the draft constitution.
"If there was a consensus in the convention, there wouldn't be a need for explanations. But there is need," said Mr Aznar.
"It is all about the consensus on institutions in Europe that was reached in Nice, namely the consensus concerning the 25."
Despite their continued disagreement over vote-weighting, however, the two leaders were anxious to present a united front yesterday. They stressed that they were in agreement on "the vast majority of issues" they discussed and were anxious to put their differences over Iraq behind them.
"We both want to look forward, not back," said Mr Schröder, adding that they were now both in agreement on the importance of establishing democratic and economic stability in Iraq.
Much of their informal talks, what Mr Aznar called a "meeting of friends", took place in Berlin on Wednesday night while the two leaders watched a football match on television, Mr Schröder said.
Mr Aznar praised Germany's decision to participate in the Iraq donor conference later this month in Madrid, despite its fierce opposition to the US-led war in Iraq.