European Union Summit: Corfu Summiteers Ready to Fudge Key EU Decision

Beginning of article

THE HEADS of state and government who meet in Corfu today for the European Union summit confront only one question of importance; and it seems likely that they will fudge it.

They are supposed to decide on a new President of the Commission to succeed Jacques Delors. The Belgian Prime Minister, Jean- Luc Dehaene, is the favourite, with the backing of most member states. But Ruud Lubbers, the Dutch Prime Minister and the other main candidate, seems unwilling to back down. If he does not - if a mixture of national pride and personal psychology prevents a decision - there will be deadlock and another summit will have to follow.

EU electors have just voted for a new …