Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has warned that the Presidency would not recommend the re-launch of the IGC if Member States continue to stick to their positions.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, holder of the rotating EU Presidency, has warned EU leaders to alter their positions urgently if they wish to work towards concluding negotiations on the EU Constitution during the term of the Irish Presidency and before the European elections.

On 3 March, Mr Ahern complained that Member States were too unwilling to make compromises with regard to the system of vote in the Council. The IGC summit (in December 2003) failed due to the unwillingness of Spain and Poland to accept the Convention's double majority system instead of the 'Nice formula'. The latter system gives these countries a voting weight almost on a par with that of Germany.

Mr Ahern will continue talks with his EU counterparts until 17 March, after which he will begin drafting a progress report to be submitted to the Spring Summit (25-26 March). The report will summarise positions and recommend next steps on the IGC.

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt has said he would extend the deadline for keeping the one Commissioner per Member State principle until 2014 as opposed to the proposal by the draft Constitution for a smaller Commission from 2009. A smaller Commission is essential to avoid the emergence of a 'directorate' of large countries within the Commission, Mr Verhofstadt was quoted as saying on 2 March.

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