EU Constitution crisis
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PRIME Minister Tony Blair was today signing the Constitutional Treaty in Rome amid a growing crisis over the new Brussels Commission.
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EU Commission President designate Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, top left, delivers his address in Giulio Cesare hall at the opening ceremony of the EU Constitution signing in Rome&#39;s Capitoline Hill, Friday, Oct. 29, 2004.
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The onus now falls on EU leaders to resolve the crisis over the incoming European Commission in the wake of the dramatic showdown between its president Jose Manuel Barroso and the European Parliament.
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The 25 European Union leaders yesterday signed the EU&#39;s first constitution that aims to boost the union&#39;s presence on the world stage but will face a tough ratification test at the hands of European parliaments and voters before it can take
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However, their celebration of unity has been marred by uncertainty over its ratification and turmoil over the stalled European Commission.
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UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says a referendum on the EU constitution will take place in 2006 if Labour wins a third term. What impact will the constitution have?
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European leaders on Friday tried to revive efforts to adopt the proposed European Union constitution, which many declared dead last year after it was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands.
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com European Bureau Chief. (Brussels) Embattled incoming European Justice Commissioner Rocco Buttiglione has moved to head off a full scale crisis for the EU Parliament.
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STRASBOURG A backlash against an Italian commissioner with conservative social views steered the European Union into crisis Wednesday when JosÃ© Manuel Barroso was forced to delay the vote on the new European Commission.
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The European Commission faces a new crisis after it was revealed incoming French commissioner Jacques Barrot has a fraud conviction.
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Â· Some states 'in denial' over constitution  Â· Barroso rejects Ã  la carte Europe of exemptions
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At their summit in Brussels, EU leaders hope to agree on a slimmed-down version of their draft constitution, which was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. Here are some of the key elements of the charter and whether they are likely to be scrapped or salvaged under a new treaty:
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BRUSSELS (Deutsche Welle) - The Dutch government has opposed holding a referendum on a new European Union constitutional treaty. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said: "A referendum is unnecessary and undesirable."  But, the Dutch cabinet also said it would take its decision to parliament, where many legislators favor a vote among the public.  In 2005, voters in the Netherlands and France rejected a new EU constitution in referendums, plunging the EU into a major political crisis.
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BRUSSELS, Oct 21 (IPS) - The EU was plunged further into crisis Thursday  after the incoming European Commission president Jose Manuel  DurÃ£o Barroso failed to resolve a dispute over the next EU  executive team.
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A row over the spelling of the euro threatens to mar the signing of the first EU constitution in October.
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Chances of French ratification of the European Union's proposed constitution suffered a setback when former Socialist prime minister and 2007 presidential hopeful Laurent Fabius came out against it.
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European leaders on Friday tried to revive efforts to adopt the proposed European Union constitution, which many declared dead last year after it was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands.Comment