European Union's military plans scaled down to ease U.S. concer

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Union scaled down plans for its own military command Friday to ease U.S. concerns about NATO unity, as leaders of 25 countries haggled over a first-ever EU constitution intended to boost their global clout.

The defense deal aims to end months of bickering over a French-German proposal, put forth at the height of trans-Atlantic tensions over the Iraq war last spring, for an independent EU military headquarters.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who brokered the deal while keeping President Bush apprised, said he was pleased with the outcome.

"What this gives us is an opportunity to keep the trans-Atlantic ... alliance strong but make sure in circumstances where America is not engaged in an operation, that Europe can act," he said.

Washington had complained the EU drive would waste resources and undermine alliance solidarity.

French President Jacques Chirac said it "satisfies the interests of all. It was never our desire to put in doubt" the NATO alliance.

Under the new agreement, the EU will set up a defense planning cell based at NATO's military headquarters in southern Belgium to run European missions with help from the alliance. NATO liaison officers will be based at the EU as well.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said that should allow Europe to act independently while still coordinating with NATO.

"The EU can become an authoritative player on the world stage," he said.

Despite the positive start to the year-end summit, there was little sign of movement on a bitterly fought dispute over voting power for the 15 current members and 10 newcomers in the future EU.

The ambitious charter is aimed at streamlining decision-making to promote unity and give Europe greater political influence to match its economic heft.

Spain and Poland led a clutch of smaller countries in resisting a proposal they charge would allow the EU's big four -- Germany, France, Britain and Italy -- to run roughshod over the others.

In a sign of his determination, Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller came to the summit against his doctor's advice, having broken two vertebrae in a helicopter crash last week.

"We will wait and see" was his only response when asked about chances for agreement.

The draft proposes replacing a points system with one in which decisions would pass if backed by a majority of countries representing at least 60 percent of the EU population. Chirac called the old system "flawed," adding it was bound to slow decision-making.

Diplomats suggested a possible compromise would be changing the population threshold, making it easier for smaller countries to form a blocking minority.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said he would examine any new proposals "with great pleasure."

Blair declined to comment, but said the goal was to "make sure Europe works effectively. ...

"It's important for us to get the right agreement, not simply any agreement," he said, adding that it "may well not be possible."

Other outstanding issues included the allocation of commissioners in the EU's head office in Brussels and seats in the European Parliament.

The host, Berlusconi, already was talking about extending the talks, which were to wrap up Saturday night.

"Sunday morning is the latest deadline that we have set ourselves," he told a news conference.