BRUSSELS, 16/06/06 - The Netherlands wants to introduce certain parts of the rejected European Constitution. The EU should immediately abolish the veto right for some legal matters and make the EU ministerial meetings public, Premier Jan Peter Balkenende declared ahead of the two-day summit meeting of government leaders in Brussels.

Despite the rejection of the draft Constitution in referenda in the Netherlands and France, "it is good to look at what you can improve in the context of the existing rules," said Balkenende. "I do not regard this as cherry-picking. I believe that you should simply look at what the composition of the present rules is and how you can use these to operate more effectively in Europe."

It is questionable whether other EU leaders will support the Dutch ideas. The UK and some southern states are not much in favour of making public certain EU ministerial meetings that currently take place behind closed doors. Germany is against abolishing veto rights on judicial matters. Belgium, Spain and Italy are hesitant on increased involvement for national parliaments in EU legislation.

The outcome of the summit is likely to be that the 'pause for reflection' on the European Constitution is extended for a year. "There is much to do," in Balkenende's view. He referred among other things to a debate on further enlargement of the EU. The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg issued a joint statement on this yesterday. The Benelux wants the question of whether the EU itself is ready to admit new countries to play a role.