THE EU: Divisions over the future of European defence and the transatlantic relationship are expected to dominate a two-day meeting of EU foreign ministers that begins on the Greek island of Rhodes today.
The meeting received a boost this week with the long-awaited publication of a road map for peace in the Middle East endorsed by the US, the UN, the EU and Russia.
A report on this week's mini-summit on defence, attended by Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg, is likely to reopen the deep divisions that emerged within the EU over the Iraq war. And the ministers will struggle to agree a meaningful formula for action in rebuilding Iraq, in particular, the UN's role in the reconstruction effort.
Although the meeting is described as informal, the Greek Foreign Minister, Mr George Papandreou, has drawn up a heavy agenda.
Apart from immediate questions such as the Middle East peace process and the reconstruction of Iraq, the ministers will attempt to devise a strategy to limit the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
They will also prepare for next month's EU/US summit by discussing ways to repair the transatlantic relationship after the tensions created by the war in Iraq.
Tomorrow, the ministers will sail to the island of Kastellorizo, near the Turkish border, where they will be joined by their counterparts from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.
The progress of the Convention on the Future of Europe, although not officially on the agenda, is likely to preoccupy the ministers, who will be joined for the entire two days by their counterparts from the 10 new member-states.
The European Commission this week agreed a position on the reform of EU institutions that would reverse one of the most controversial elements of the Nice Treaty by having one Commissioner per member-state, even after the EU grows beyond 27 members.
"The Members of the European Commission are important in terms of embodying the European Union in each member- state. The composition of the Commission is not simply a technocratic question. The Commission must be credible through its connection with the people and by representing all sensitivities," the Commission said in a statement on Wednesday night.
It approved a proposal at the convention for the Commission President to be chosen by EU leaders, using qualified majority voting, and approved by a majority in the European Parliament. The Commission left open the possibility of endorsing the appointment of a permanent President of the European Council, although the Commissioners said they were not persuaded of the merits of the proposal.
There is growing speculation in Brussels that the Commission and smaller EU member-states will agree to appointing an EU President - favoured by larger states - in return for the right of each country to nominate a Commissioner.
The Government remains committed to the Nice settlement, under which the size of the Commission could decrease once the EU reaches a membership of 27.
The Government wants the Commission President to be chosen by an electoral college made up of MEPs and national parliamentarians from a number of candidates who have received support from across the EU.
