Rome
Leaders of old and new Europe started bickering this week over how much power they would wield in an expanded European Union. The E.U. will grow from 15 to 25 members next May, when the former communist countries of eastern Europe join, and the bigger group will operate under a new constitution. A draft constitution was formulated in June after 16 months of debate, but some of the new members are now having second thoughts. Poland, for example, objects to a revision in how many votes each nation can cast; under the previous system, the Poles would have had as many votes as the much more populous Germany. France and Germany are threatening to cut cash subsidies Poland is set to receive unless it falls into line.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Man arrested after 'suspicious' fires at properties linked to Keir StarmerSpeed Read Prime minister thanks emergency services after fire at his former family home in north London
-
Elon Musk's SpaceX has created a new city in Texasunder the radar Starbase is home to SpaceX's rocket launch site
-
Crossword: May 13, 2025The Week's daily crossword
