Poland to torpedo EU constitution summit?

"I want to reiterate with utmost seriousness that we will not support the double-majority system," he said in a radio interview. The double majority system, enshrined in the draft of the EU constitution, favors the biggest countries, leading the government to propose an alternative system that strengthens medium-sized members. Meanwhile, negotiating papers leaked to the press show that Poland is going to launch a last-minute effort to win over other states, and that in doing so is prepared to drop its former proposal, dubbed the square root voting system, in favor of a compromise that "guarantees equal weight to big, medium and small countries". If the plan is to succeed, Poland must win the support of at least one major EU country in coming days. The President and his diplomats have a hectic week head, with talks or state visits scheduled with officials and heads of state from the UK, Germany, France and Spain. (Dziennik, p. 6; Gazeta Wyborcza, p; 4) R.M.