European Union chief Jose Manuel Barroso landed himself in political trouble Thursday over plans to host talks with only a select group of EU leaders over how the bloc should proceed with a proposed constitution. EU officials and diplomats acknowledged the European Commission president was forced to drastically downscale his planned May 12-13 «brainstorming session» in Portugal amid grumblings from non-invited EU nations. It was further proof a possible EU constitution remained a sensitive issue for most, if not all, EU capitals, accoridng to AP. Barroso's spokesman Johannes Laitenberger acknowledged the president's office had to send out new notices to previously invited leaders from Italy, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands to withdraw their invitations. Those nations, along with Germany, Portugal, Britain and Sweden, had received invites to the original mini-summit. Laitenberger said the closed-door talks, which are planned to be held in on the outskirts of Lisbon in Sintra, would now only include Barroso, the president of the European Parliament and leaders from the current and future two rotating EU presidencies _ Germany, Portugal and Slovenia. He said the aim of the meeting was to hold an informal chat over the future of Europe, and over such issues as climate change and energy policy. «It will not be a summit. It's going to be a brainstorming,» Laitenberger told reporters. Barroso's effort to restart high-level talks _ but only with a limited group of EU nations _ on the constitution was seen by diplomats as a risky political move, especially as it involves such a controversial topic as how the EU should be run in future years and with what powers. «If you do those tricky things, you are bound to get into trouble,» said one European diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. Another EU diplomat said German Chancellor Angela Merkel _ who is leading efforts to revive the constitution as her country currently holds the EU presidency _ was not consulted by Barroso on holding the Sintra talks. Laitenberger, however, did not equate Barroso's mini-summit idea with previous attempts to hold exclusive talks on the constitution, which ended in failure. Luxembourg and Spain had tried earlier this year to hold talks among only the 18 EU countries that ratified the constitution, but French and Dutch leaders complained. Both France and the Netherlands _ where voters rejected the constitution in 2005 referendums _ are advocating a drastic redraft of the EU charter. «It was never a question of selecting countries, it was a question of inviting certain personalities, representatives,» Laitenberger said. «The fact that we planned to get together in Sintra does not mean that the other people are not important. It was always foreseen to have other informal contacts in addition, in other points in time.» The constitution would need unanimous backing from all member states for it to take effect. It would aim to streamline EU decision-making, boost the bloc's international role and prepare it for future expansion. Merkel was expected to propose a solution during a June summit of EU leaders. Many countries, including Britain, Poland, the Netherlands and France, want to strip down the current draft text and scrap certain parts, notably the charter's name, which for many suggests the creation of a European super state. -- SPA
