In Brief: EU Constitution talks continue; Polish scientists lead key EU project

One of the first issues to be discussed is the scope of vetoing rights in the European Council, with Poland, UK, Ireland and several other new member states demanding retaining veto rights in the area of taxes and social policy. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A6) ... Polish scientists will be the leaders of one of the EU's flagship research projects, aimed at devising new, safe materials for the aerospace and automotive industries. The team of scientists from the Institute of Basic Technology Problems at the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) is the only one from a new member state among the 200 teams whose projects have been approved by the European Commission. (Gazeta Wyborcza, May 15-16, p. 7) T.J.