Britain and Germany were at log-gerheads over who should head the European Commission before a crucial EU summit opening yesterday, but the bloc's leaders appeared to be nearing agreement on a new constitution.
Britain opposed Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt's bid for the European Commission presidency on Wednesday, but Germany promptly declared it would continue to back Verhofstadt -- a keen federalist supporter of European integration.
The public bickering could further undermine public confidence following record low voter turnout and gains for euroskeptics in this month's European Parliament elections.
"The UK does not support Mr Verhofstadt for the presidency of the Commission," a senior British official told reporters.
But a senior German official said: "We will actively stand up for Mr Verhofstadt," adding that a decision could not be delayed.
France has also backed Verhofstadt, but diplomats said several other EU states, notably those who supported the US-led war in Iraq, do not want him.
Although Britain has no formal veto, the pre-emptive strike exactly 10 years after London vetoed another Belgian for the Commission presidency, appeared to torpedo Verhofstadt's prospects of succeeding Italy's Romano Prodi in November, diplomats said.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, a freshly re-elected 49-year-old Christian Democrat who is the preferred choice of most leaders, insisted he would not seek or accept the job and said he backed Verhofstadt.
"I promised my electorate that I wouldn't be president of the European Commission if I won the election. I don't want to appear as a liar," he said in Meise, outside Brussels.
Politicians did not discuss candidates at a meeting on Wednesday night, but would return to the subject yesterday morning, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said.
While wrangling over names continued, leaders appeared to inch closer to approving a first constitution for the enlarged 25-nation bloc at the two-day summit -- seen as crucial after an initial failure to do so last year.
At that time, Spain and Poland fought to retain voting rights they won in the 2000 Nice Treaty, which gave them almost as much power as Germany with less than half its population.
EU president Ireland put forward a compromise package on Wednesday aimed at settling the fiercest dispute over member states' voting rights by raising the proportions of member states and of the population required to approve most decisions.
Ireland proposed that most decisions to be made by a so-called double majority of 55 percent of EU member states that represent 65 percent of the population.
The compromise also included new wording on the Commission's power to police budgets, handing Germany a victory as member states would have the ultimate say in what recommendations should be given to a country to trim its budget deficit.
Spain signalled its support for the Irish plan.
"Spain is satisfied with the proposal ... it isn't 100 percent of what Spain has asked for but it is very close," Madrid government sources said.
Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka was also optimistic, predicting agreement on the constitution at the summit.
Diplomats say the choice of EU Commission president may be postponed until July.
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