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Deadline not yet fixed to ratify Maastricht
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23: European Community for etgn ministers pledged on Monday to go ahead with the controversial Maastricht Treaty on political and economic union but papered over crucial differences on when to ratify the pact, reports agen ctes
At the same time, the mln Isters sought to Initiate a widespread education campaign. acknowledging their governments had done a poor job in quieting public anxiety on the Impact of the treaty, aggravated by turmoil In cur rency markets.
The meeting came one day after France narrowly voted tn a referendum to accept the treaty
The treaty is supposed to pave the way for a single currency in Europe, as well as common foreign and security policies.
The ministers, meeting In a special session at the United Nations, were unable to set a firm deadline for ratifying the treaty after hours of argument.
Although the original hope had been to finalise the treaty by the end of the year, the communique merely said that, failing this, the pact should come into force Just after the last state ratified it
Both Britain and Denmark are grappling with hostile public opinion and say they need time to overcome this.
As Denmark has still not
come up with a solution on how to overturn its June refer endum In which voters re jected the treaty, the pact s hi ture Is as much In doubt as
Britain, which has < on ski crable domestic opposition to the treaty, angered Its part ners, particularly Germany. Belgium and the Netherlands, by refusing to Incorporate a firm target date for ratification
British officials said Prime Minister John Major's government would not resubmit Maastricht legislation to par liament in London until Denmark showed how it In tended to deal with its situation.
One area tn which there was common agreement was to call a special summit, tenia ttvely scheduled for October 16 In London, to discuss the upheavals In European currency markets and the scepticism about the EC among ’fot-ers.
The ministers were also firm in their statement as well as in comments to reporters that the text of The Maastricht Treaty should be ratified in its present form.
As European Commission President Jacques Delors told ’reporters: Tf you try to rewrite it you open Pandora's box and It is finished".
British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd, current EC president, said the ministers were concerned with widespread public disillusion
with the EC and sifch preoccupation would be discussed at the special EC summit next month
Hurd told a news conference that concern arose "from worry and anxiety that our community has drifted to some extent out of touch with the citizens It exists to serve"
Diplomats from several member states said Britain was Isolated tn wanting to water down the commitment to push ahead as quickly as possible with ratification of the treaty.
One official said the wording of the initial communique penned by Britain was too vague and was not acceptable.
Britain brushed off the criticism. with one official remarking “We re not Into deadlines .
French Foreign Minister Roland Dumas said most EC member states did not want to renegotiate the Maastricht Treaty after France's narrow approval in Sunday's referendum. German Chancellor Helmut Kohl said on Tuesday he agreed with French President Francois Mitterrand that the Maastricht process of European monetary and political union must not be halted.
"For me and for the president It Is clear," Kohl told German ZDF television in Paris after a meeting with Mitterrand.
Asked If he was seeking Improvements to the treaty. Kohl said: “I am not sure It Is Improvements. What I have
said Is that there Is no question of the treaty text."
"If It can be established that, for example, loo much is regulated on the European level to the detriment of countries then we must abolish this where it happens, we must undo it."
German Finance Minister Theo Waigel told the world s financial leaders Tuesday that "no further adjustment" 1s needed after last weeks tumultuous events in European finances
Waigel noted the withdrawal of Britain and Italy from the European monetary system and the French "yes" vote on European union. He said the French vote has taken an Important element of uncertainty from the markets
Other governments have been pressing Germany to further reduce Interest rates.
Complicating an already troubled European unity treaty, Denmark on Tuesday said it will reconsider Its rejection of the accord but opposed its plane for a single currency by 1999
At a news conference Tuesday. Prime Minister Poul Schlueter said hts country will hold a referendum on the treaty but it did no want to be tied to the common currency
When the treaty was agreed on. the Danes Inserted a clause about possibly requiring an other referendum on the sin-«fe currency issue, while the British had one allowing them
to opt out of the currency.
Schlueter’s comment, however. appeared to strengthen the likelihood Denmark will not participate In the common currency
The news could not have come at a worse time for Europe’s currency market.
EC union to keep low profile The European Commission, aware the EC's union plans are far from safe after French voters accepted them by a whisker, will keep a low profile in the next few months to avoid creating waves while other EC nations have their
Officials said the EC executive would try to avoid taking controversial policy decisions while the British and German governments ratify the treaty and tn view of a possible second Danish referendum. "There may be a Danish poll In early 1993 We will avoid as many sensitive Issues as possible We are probably going to have quite a quiet time." said one official.
EC summit fixed forOctl5,16
Britain hits fixed October 15 and 16 for an emergency European Community summit to consider the future of pollt leal and economic unity plana. German officials said.
"We have hcatd the 15th and 16th (of October)", one official said on condition he not
Britain, current chairman of the EC. called for a crisis summit after French voters in a referendum on Sunday only narrowly approved the Maastricht treaty on EC union.
UK cuts interest rate
Britain took advantage of a free-floating pound to cut interest rates by one per cent on
ery tn the moribund economy.
The cut, to nine per cent, was made possible by last week's decision to pull the pound out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), giving the government more financial flexibility.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont said his top priority remained controlling inflation.
EC still plans energy tax
The European Commission Intends to press on with plans for a European Community (EC) environmental tax on energy. despite fierce opposition from industry. Energy Commissioner Antonio Cardoso Ecunha said
The commissioner reiterated that the commission would argue forcefully for the adoption of this Important policy Initiative tn Its entirety", a commission statement released In Brussels quoted the commissioner telling the World Energy Council s (WEC) conference In Madrid