Constitution scepticism

The comments came as Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Poland's Lech Kaczyński met in Warsaw to discuss the EU constitution and the reform of its institutions.

"We have the impression that something has to be done, that the Constitution Charter in its present form is not to be used, it is not to be accepted," Klaus told a news conference. He was echoed by his Polish counterpart. "We do not see a crisis in the EU right now ... There are difficulties of course ... Reforms are needed, but we do not see the need for a revolution," Kaczyński said.

Germany is trying to revive the discussion and gather proposals for a new document during its current six-month EU presidency. German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans intense bilateral talks in Berlin with other EU leaders between May 21 and June 1 to try to find a consensus on a new European constitution. Poland and the Czech Republic are among nine countries that have not ratified the treaty, which aimed to streamline the workings of the bloc. 

Klaus said this week he was in favor of a document that would halt integration of the bloc by "stealth," a project he said was being driven by officials behind the backs of EU citizens.

Andrzej Krawczyk, the Polish president's foreign policy adviser, told Reuters that Poland would probably present its proposals next month and that Kaczyński would decide whether to hold a referendum on the constitution when there was "some progress" in talks within the bloc.

According to opinion polls, more than 60 percent of Poles are in favor of an EU charter. (Reuters)