EU minnows raise their voice

Giscard is calling for a president elected by member states

Sixteen European Union states and candidate members have united against what they see as an attempt to give more power to larger nations in the EU's future constitution.

A letter signed by representatives of the 16 was handed to European Convention president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who is drawing up the constitution.

The letter argued for the retention of the current rotating presidency and for a commissioner in Brussels representing each member state.

Mr Giscard d'Estaing, backed by the main European powers such as the UK, France and Germany, has called for a president elected by member states.

THE SIXTEEN - FULL AND CANDIDATE MEMBERS

Austria

Denmark

Finland

Ireland

Portugal

Sweden

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Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Estonia

Hungary

Latvia

Lithuania

Malta

Slovakia

Slovenia

He believes that the current system will be unworkable when the EU expands to 25 members in 2004.

The smaller countries - six full EU members and 10 others expected to join in two waves of expansion - fear that the voting superiority of the larger nations will mean that presidents will come from those countries.

Irish Government representative Dick Roche said Mr Giscard was "very open" to the group's ideas.

Representatives of smaller states often get together, making up a significant part of the 105-member convention.

However, the Benelux countries (Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) have not joined the current group.

Instead they put forward a compromise proposal on Thursday for a commission of 15 members after 2004 rotating among member countries.

Climax

Earlier Mr Giscard told the BBC that a plan for a president elected by popular vote was "unrealistic".

The convention's work is coming to a climax after a year of debate, with decisions now being made on the future division of power between different EU institutions.

It must hand in a draft constitution to EU leaders next month.

The EU's aim is to adopt the new constitution in time for the admission of 10 new members in May 2004.