Sarkozy backs Merkel on Lisbon Treaty Update

The Irish Times carries the report that France and Germany have now combined in calling for an early revision to the Lisbon Treaty, a move that will cause tremendous problems for Britain's Coalition Governement and in this blogger's view, almost certainly blow it apart. The report is linked here and startlingly seems to suggest a four week timescale to accomplish the changes, as explained, in a rather muddled manner, in the following paragraphs:

“We will make proposals in a comprehensive package that will enable closer co-operation between euro zone countries that will include changes to treaties,” Dr Merkel told reporters before a meeting with Mr Sarkozy over dinner in Berlin last night.

She and Mr Sarkozy said they had reached agreement on a plan to recapitalise the weakest euro zone banks and they set their fellow- leaders a four-week deadline to forge ahead with a package of measures to escalate the campaign against the crisis.

Amid anxiety about mounting disruption in the banking sector, France and Germany want to unveil the plan before G-20 leaders meet in Cannes early next month.

Talks between the European powers are to intensify in the coming days as they seek to settle a series of knotty problems which are hampering moves to escalate their campaign against the crisis.

Dr Merkel has not specified what measures she wants to enshrine in the Lisbon treaty.
 
However, officials expect that any such move would be designed to make it easier for the European authorities to impose their will on the economic policy of countries which consistently breach EU budget rules.