There is increasing evidence that the Convention’s draft of the Constitutional Treaty will be re-written during the Inter-Governmental Conference (IGC). The UK, with the support of Ireland, Scandinavian countries, Spain, Italy and some Eastern European countries, have signalled their intention to re-open the text.
Reports in UK newspapers state that the government will issue in early September a policy statement detailing the areas where it is not prepared to compromise, such as tax harmonisation, mutual defence pact and the creation of an EU public prosecutor.
Germany was initially opposed to break the compromise reached in the Convention. However, they have warned that if other countries start to open the treaty, they would not hold back.
In this case, there is a risk that policy issues which are not a priority for Member States could become the "bargaining chip".
