Poland fully prepared to use veto over EU Constitution

Just six weeks before a key EU summit in Brussels, during which crucial decisions on the shape of the constitution are to be made, Poland does not have the backing of any other country, not even the UK, France or the Czech Republic on whose support it counted. Now, Polish negotiators are reportedly planning a shift in strategy: they will attempt to win round Germany. A Polish veto could delay the talks at least until next year and make it more difficult for Poland to obtain the generous budget allocations for farmers and structural aid it so badly wants, sources in Brussels say. Alternatively, those EU countries supporting the constitution could form an inner core of tighter integration, thus isolating Poland. Meanwhile, PiS is reportedly already drawing up a media strategy to fend off the barrage of criticism that is expected to be directed at it if and when Poland wields the veto. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 10) R.M.