Even the memberships of Romania and Bulgaria could be delayed as well, for other reasons. Earlier this week, Olli Rehn, the EU's enlargement commissioner, told reporters that both nations had been warned of a possible delay because of the slow pace of actions they are required to take before they join.
Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain told the gathering that it was crucial that the union's leaders focus on issues that matter to the Europeans, including economic competitiveness, crime, terrorism and Europe's role in the world.
"Let's get the politics right first, then the constitution," he said.
The crisis has plunged the bloc into a state of self-doubt and self-interest and ended two decades of political and economic integration. It has been complicated by the bloc's failure so far to agree on a long-term budget, which would have been on the agenda yesterday.
EU leaders yesterday were to endorse a plan to double their aid to the world's poorest nations by 2015.
The proposal, included in a draft statement for adoption at the EU summit, would take the bloc's aid to 90 billion euros (US$111 billion) over the next 10 years.
The text confirms decisions taken by development ministers from the 25 EU nations last week committing them to set aside at least 0.5 percent of gross national income to aid by 2010 and 0.7 percent by 2015.
The draft statement said at least 50 percent of the increase would go to sub-Saharan Africa. ``The EU considers the development of Africa a priority,'' it said.
New Laws Planned
EU leaders plan new laws to help their police forces work more closely together to fight terrorism, according to yesterday's draft summit conclusions.
The program, in a draft statement up for adoption, includes tightening rules on charities that funnel cash to militants, laws to allow police to retain data on telecommunications traffic and strengthened civil defense plans to prepare for germ warfare attacks.
It would follow up other recent measures to improve cooperation, including the adoption of a European arrest warrant that streamlines extradition of suspects among the EU nations.
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