President Sarkozy and Dutch PM discuss EU treaty 01/06/2007 00:00

PARIS, June 1, 2007 (AFP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende have "convergent" views on a new EU treaty, a spokesman for the French president said Friday after the two leaders spoke by telephone.

During the long phone conversation, Sarkozy and Balkenende "talked about the possible solution of a simplified treaty, on the subject of which their approaches are particularly convergent," said spokesman David Martinon.

Dutch and French voters rejected the EU constitution in 2005, plunging the European Union into a constitutional crisis. Since being elected last month Sarkozy has been pushing for a simplified treaty.

At an EU summit on June 21-22, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the EU presidency, hopes to reach agreement on a roadmap towards sealing a treaty.

Balkenende and Sarkozy, who was in Madrid on Thursday to drum up support for his proposal following recent visits to Berlin and Brussels, "outlined a few of the clauses that a simplified treaty could cover," Martinon said.

The two "decided to continue exchanging ideas and proposals," and the French president invited Balkenende to come to Paris, "which is something that should be organised quickly," the spokesman added.

Copyright AFP

Subject: French news