[autom.vertaling] Het Nederlandse vrees verliezen uit over Grondwet (en)

The Dutch government fears that its demands with regard to the EU Constitution will not be met now that big member states appear to be moving towards agreement with unexpected speed.

This was admitted by Dutch State Secretary Atzo Nicolaï yesterday (22 March) when speaking to journalists in Brussels, according to Het Nederlands Dagblad.

"There is a risk that we will get into a tight corner", Mr Nicolaï stated.

The Netherlands has two prime objectives in the negotiations regarding the EU Constitution. The main Dutch demand is the preservation of its veto on the EU budget.

A second big demand is that the Dutch want the new Constitution to include expanded powers for the European Court of Justice over the Stability Pact - the rules that underpin the euro.

But now that all eyes are focused on a breakthrough in the negotiations with regard to the division of power between big member states, the Dutch are afraid that their demands will come off worst. "The moves by the big states do not make it easier for us", Mr Nicolaï said.

His comments come as Germany, France, Spain and Poland - the main players in the negotiations on the Constitution - appear to be heading towards a compromise on the Constitution.