Italy presents compromise proposal at EU summit

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In Brussels, the Italian Prime Minister Sylvio Berlusconi is presenting fresh plans for a compromise to break the impasse at a crucial European Union summit.

Speaking to reporters just before restarting the talks, he said he has spoken to all the different nations to clarify their limits, the line they will not go beyond in any compromise.

"We will present a new plan of change," he said. "It's an improvement if you like, to achieve a final text. We have a big disagreement on the issue of majority voting." Berlusconi also said he had four different documents to present.

Negotiations went on late into the night to try to resolve differences.

Poland and Spain are fighting to hold on to the voting rights they were given at a summit in Nice in 2000. They won decision-making power similar to that given to Germany, even though their populations are much smaller.

A new constitution is seen as crucial, as the 15 member bloc gets ready to welcome a further 10 countries next year.

Italy, which hands over the presidency of the union to Ireland in January, has been struggling to get all sides to reach agreement.

[Source: EuroNews.net]