Contours Taking Shape For Future Eu Treaty

At a summit on Saturday, EU leaders pledged to press on with negotiations to prepare their bloc for an influx of new members from eastern Europe and the Mediterranean early next century.

But behind the concern about the potential for failure in the inter-govermental conference (IGC), due to end in Amsterdam in June next year, negotiators and officials say a slow coming-together has already taken place on the main issues.

These include foreign policy, justice and home affairs, employment, institutional reform and