EU leaders meet amid discord over further expansion (Roundup)

By Shada Islam and Leon Mangasarian Dec 14, 2006, 15:04 GMT

Brussels - European Union leaders were opening a summit Thursday amid discord between pro-enlargement members such as Britain and countries which want to slam the brakes on expansion such as France and The Netherlands.

A crisis over Turkey's bid to join the EU - triggered by Ankara's refusal to open transport links with EU member Cyprus - was defused earlier this week, with the bloc agreeing to partially freeze

membership talks.

But the row over whether to admit Turkey, a mainly Muslim nation with a population of 70 million, highlighted a growing rift over how far east the soon-to-be 27-nation EU's boundaries can be extended.

Britain, the Nordic countries and EU newcomers such as Poland strongly back further enlargement of the Union.

However old EU members Germany, France, The Netherlands and Luxembourg are wary of additional expansion in general and are especially opposed to Turkish membership.

In an apparent jab at Britain, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said he wanted more focus on reinforcing relations among existing member states.

'What bothers me is the clear attempt of some to back enlarging the EU on the one hand while on the other blocking EU deepening,' he said.

Although the summit will insist that the EU's doors remain open to Turkey and western Balkan states, leaders are expected to confirm a slowdown in plans for further expansion following the entry of Romania and Bulgaria on January 1, 2007.

EU commission chief Barroso has cautioned, however, that discussions on the EU's 'integration capacity,' a reference to adapting the bloc's finances and decision-making procedures to expansion, must not send a negative message to applicants.

'We need to keep candidate countries motivated ... it is in all of our interests that candidates pursue difficult reforms on a road that is bound to be long,' said Barroso ahead of the summit.

Opinion polls show that many Europeans fear rising competition from low-cost eastern labourers both at home and abroad. There is also concern about the flow of EU funds to poorer eastern countries and worries that a too-large bloc will become increasingly difficult to manage.

The tougher EU stance includes warnings that future expansion can only take place once the bloc has a new constitution.

But disagreement is likely at the summit on the future of the constitution which some countries, including The Netherlands, want to bury but others - including Germany which takes over the EU presidency next January - would like to resurrect.

Voters in France and The Netherlands rejected the constitution in 2005. This torpedoed the treaty which must be approved by all member states to enter into force.

With constitution discussions stalled, Croatia is unlikely to meet its goal of joining the EU in 2009 and Macedonia is not expected to be given a date for opening entry talks.

The enlargement slowdown will disappoint western Balkan states - Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Kosovo - which are clamouring to enter the bloc. The new approach also effectively puts a lid on EU entry aspirations harboured by Ukraine and Georgia.

Other questions on the agenda include plans to curb illegal immigration, energy security and persistent fears that Europe is losing the global competitiveness race not just to the United States and Japan but also to China and India.

Global flashpoints, including escalating Middle East violence, Iran's nuclear ambitions and the crisis in Darfur will be discussed at a separate meeting by EU foreign ministers.

Demands by Italy for a resumption of cooperation talks with Serbia will be raised.  But diplomats predict there will be no change in the EU stance that Belgrade must first ensure 'full cooperation' with the international war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

In addition the summit is likely to warn Russia against any moves to end imports of meat from the EU as of January 1,2007 because of fears over the safety of meat from new members Bulgaria and Romania.

Russia has said it will only allow shipments from EU countries that sign individual agreements with Moscow guaranteeing their products' safety. EU officials are adamant that any food security certificate can only be given by the European Commission, the EU's executive agency.