French President Jacques Chirac and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said on Monday an agreement on a constitution for the European Union could be reached at an EU summit on June 17 and 18.
"We think today it is possible to reach a conclusion on that date," Chirac told reporters after talks with Ahern, who echoed those comments.
Ahern, whose country is the current holder of the rotating EU presidency and will chair the June summit, said he was encouraged by recent "movements" in the search for an agreement.
Prospects for a deal have improved with the election of a new, more pro-European government in Spain and signals of compromise from Poland and Germany on the core issue of member states' voting power, which caused a breakdown last December.
Chirac said a "double majority" principle proposed in the draft constitution was a good compromise. Under this system, most EU decisions would be adopted by a majority of member states representing 60 percent of the population.
"The position agreed with Germany and with Britain was not just taken for reasons of principle. It was a good compromise between effectiveness and the requirements of democracy," he said.
"We haven't changed our minds. The Irish presidency have taken on the responsibility and will bring this to a conclusion in an open-minded spirit."
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