SPAIN: FRENCH, GERMAN AND SPANISH LEADERS MEET AT INFORMAL SUMMIT IN MADRID AIMED AT IMPROVING RELATIONS AS BLOC PREPARES TO RATIFY A NEW EU CONSTITUTION

Record ID: 648213

  • Title: SPAIN: FRENCH, GERMAN AND SPANISH LEADERS MEET AT INFORMAL SUMMIT IN MADRID AIMED AT IMPROVING RELATIONS AS BLOC PREPARES TO RATIFY A NEW EU CONSTITUTION
  • Date: 13th September 2004
  • Summary: (W6) MADRID, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 13, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WS: EXTERIOR OF MONCLOA PRESIDENTIAL PALACE 0.03 2. VARIOUS OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER, SPANISH PRIME MINISTER JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO AND FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC WALKING IN GARDEN (5 SHOTS) 0.40 3. MV: GUARD STANDING BY DOORWAY NEXT TO FLAGS 0.42 4. SCHROEDER, ZAPATERO AND CHIRAC SHAKE HANDS AND WALK INTO BUILDING (2 SHOTS) 1.26 5. ZAPATERO, CHIRAC AND SCHROEDER ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE 1.34 6. MEDIA 1.38 7. ZAPATERO AND SCHROEDER AT PODIUM 1.42 8. (SOUNDBITE) (French) CHIRAC SPEAKING: 2.00 9. MEDIA LISTENING 2.03 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ZAPATERO SPEAKING: 2.33 11. LEADERS ON PODIUM 2.37 12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ZAPATERO SPEAKING: 2.58 13. SCU: PHOTOGRAPHER 3.02 14. (SOUNDBITE) (German) SCHROEDER SPEAKING: 3.46 15. WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE 3.51 Initials SORRY NO TRANSLATION AVAILABLE FOR SOUNDBITES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 28th September 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Reuters ID: LVA7TYONURTCPP6KRM5KJRMRLY0C
  • Story Text: The leaders of France, Germany and Spain meet in
    Madrid to concentrate their attentions on the ratification
    of the European Union constitution.



    Spain hosted an informal summit with France and
    Germany on Monday (September 13) aimed at improving
    relations with the European Union heavyweights as the bloc
    prepares to ratify a new constitution and decide on
    financing its eastward expansion.

    Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero,
    French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor
    Gerhard Schroeder are also expected to review the situation
    in Iraq, where all three have criticised U.S. policy.


    The meeting is the first summit for the three nations
    alone and is an important test for Zapatero as he bids to
    secure a greater voice on the international stage after
    five months in office.

    Spanish diplomats say the meeting may be repeated but
    play down talk of an axis to rival the
    Franco-German-British summits of recent years. Experts say
    Madrid is wary of antagonising British Prime Minister Tony
    Blair, with whom former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar
    forged close ties.

    Madrid's relations with Paris and Berlin were strained
    by Aznar's support for the Iraq war and his unflinching
    opposition to a draft European charter which cut Spain's
    voting power.

    But Zapatero's Socialists surprisingly beat Aznar's
    Popular Party in elections held three days after 191 people
    were killed in the March Madrid train bombings and he has
    shifted the focus of Spanish foreign policy from the United
    States to Europe.

    Zapatero, who pulled troops from Iraq the day after
    taking office, dropped objections to the EU charter. Spain
    believes it has accumulated goodwill and is seeking a
    payback in tough talks on the EUs 2007-2013 budget, which
    start officially next year.

    Spain, the largest beneficiary of EU aid, wants to hang
    on for as long as possible to funds which have underpinned
    its robust economy. The bloc's paymaster Germany, however,
    says old members must help pay for the 10 new entrants.

    Spain hopes to prove its European credentials by being
    among the first countries to ratify the Constitution by
    referendum in February. Schroeder said last week Germany
    would also be among the first, but he left open whether it
    would be via a ballot.

    Foreign policy experts expect the troika to steer clear
    of any controversial statement on Iraq, which could deepen
    rifts within the EU and antagonise George W. Bush's
    government.
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