The prospects for agreement on the EU's proposed constitution grew stronger on Tuesday when Poland seemed to indicate that it was looking for a face-saving compromise on the new voting formula, the issue that has stalled the talks.
The development seems to have been prompted by the Socialist victory in Spain, which left Poland isolated in its refusal to accept plans to change the voting system.
Diplomats hope that the incoming Spanish prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, will honor his promise to end the deadlock.
Sources close to the Warsaw government said the Polish prime minister, Leszek Miller, was looking for a deal.
Although no agreement is expected before the EU summit in Brussels next week, observers now believe Miller will back down in the row which has damaged Warsaw's relations with Berlin and Paris, and soured Poland's initial euphoria over EU entry.
"The tone has changed," Aleksander Smolar, a leading political analyst in Warsaw, said yesterday."Now Poland has been abandoned by Spain it will be harder for Poland to get a decent deal. I have the impression that the Polish government is looking for a face-saving option."
He added: "It wasn't a good negotiating position. The mood is now much more optimistic. It may be possible to get agreement by June."
Zapatero promised "close and trusty" cooperation with France and Germany during a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder. Spain's relations with Germany and France were soured by its support for the US in Iraq.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, holder of the EU presidency, is due to tell fellow leaders at the summit whether he believes a deal can be reached in the coming months.
"Last week it was balanced on a knife-edge, but what happened in Madrid has tipped it over," a EU diplomat said.
"The Spanish will still want to get a good deal, but it's much more likely now that the Irish will have a go and try to finish the job."
Under the 2000 Nice treaty, Spain and Poland have almost the same voting rights as the EU's largest members and have insisted on keeping this advantageous arrangement.
France and Germany want a "double majority" voting system requiring support from at least half the states representing at least 60 per cent of the EU population for any new policy.
Last week Madrid rejected a compromise floated by the Irish and backed by Germany.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's government said it gave too much power to the EU's four biggest countries and made it almost impossible for Spain to block legislation.
Zapatero signalled on Monday that the deadlock could be broken.
"I think we can reach an agreement which will maintain the balance of power for an enlarged Europe," he said.
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