Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Tue 05 May 2004Ministers try to break treaty deadlockTHE EU: European Union foreign ministers have tried to break the deadlock in negotiations on a constitutional treaty, with a special session in Brussels focusing on two of the most controversial issues - the voting system in the Council of Ministers and a reference to the Christian tradition in the constitution's preamble.The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, described the meeting as constructive and its ambience as good, and expressed confidence that a deal would be agreed at next month's meeting of EU leaders.