WRAP FMs meet to discuss future after constitution debacle, photo-op
(27 May 2006) 1. Foreign Ministers departing bus 2. Ministers walking towards Klosterneuburg Abbey 3. Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Europe UPSOUND: (Reporter question) "What do you think should happen to the draft European constitution?" 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Europe, UK: "I'm sure we will be considering a way forward but what is important is that we all agree on the way forward. That will take some time to get this right for the European Union. There is no agreement at that present stage, we are very early days on those discussions, but it is important we get those discussions right for the future of Europe." 5. SOUNDBITE: (German) Frank Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister: "I think that after this meeting, a reflection period will follow and that in regular intervals the constitution will be on the agenda like here. I assume that the German presidency in the first half of 2007 will be in charge of finding a sustainable proposal how to proceed with the ratification process." 6. Javier Solana, EU foreign and security affairs chief, arriving 7. Bernard Bot, Dutch Foreign Minister getting out of car 8. Bot walking UPSOUND: (Reporter question) "What should happen with the EU constitution, what will be your proposals today?" 9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bernard Bot, Dutch Foreign Minister: "Well our proposals are to continue the reflection period, not to be too fast with this constitution treaty. You know, that we have said no in the Netherlands, so we like to prolong the reflection period." 10. Ursula Plassnik, Austrian Foreign Minister welcoming the ministers inside 11. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU External Relations Commissioner Commissioner arriving 12. Exterior of Klosterneuburg Abbey 13. Solana having a conversation 14. Various of foreign ministers gathering for photo opportunity STORYLINE: European Union foreign ministers met in Austria on Saturday to discuss setting aside their ill-fated constitution, rejected a year ago by voters in France and the Netherlands, for another year and to build confidence in European integration and the bloc's ambitious expansion plans. The European Union faced a crisis of confidence a year ago, when French and Dutch voters rejected a European constitution designed to reorganise the bloc's decision-making and raise its profile as a global player by establishing an European Union president and foreign minister. Meeting at a 900-year-old Roman Catholic monastery outside Vienna in Klosterneuburg, the ministers debated the future amid signs they will extend a one-year "period of reflection" by another year while putting off a final decision of the constitution, which must be ratified by all 25 nations to take effect. The foreign ministers are to recommend a course of action to the European Union leaders who meet in mid-June. One idea was for the leaders to issue a manifesto restating the principles and values of an increasingly united Europe, ideally in 2007 when the EU marks its 50th anniversary. "I'm sure we will be considering a way forward but what is important is that we all agree on the way forward. That will take some time to get this right for the European Union," said Geoff Hoon, Britain's Secretary of State for Europe. Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot suggested the reflection period be extended by another year. German Foreign Minister, Frank Walter Steinmeier said, "I think that after this meeting, a reflection period will follow and that in regular intervals the constitution will be on the agenda like here." Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
