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EU leaders reach
treaty consensus
   BRUSSELS, Belgium — European Union leaders agreed Saturday on the key points of a treaty meant to strengthen the bloc’s foreign policy role and eliminate unwieldy bureaucracy.
   The treaty would replace the constitution that Dutch and French voters rejected two years ago. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the summit host, said the drafting of the treaty would begin soon and all countries should ratify it by June 2009.
   It would allow more decisions to be taken by a majority, rather than unanimous, vote, removing the threat of national vetoes. The European Parliament and national assemblies would get more say over decision-making, strengthening the EU’s democratic credentials. The EU’s executive arm — the European Commission — would be trimmed from 27 to 17 seats. The post of EU president — with a maximum term of five years — will be created to replace the system of rotating national leaders into the job. And the role of EU foreign policy chief will be strengthened to give Europe a bigger voice in the world.

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Main Entry: un·wieldy
Pronunciation: -'wEl-dE
Function: adjective
: not easily managed, handled, or used (as because of bulk, weight, complexity, or awkwardness) : CUMBERSOME
- un·wield·i·ly  /-'wEl-d&-lE/ adverb
- un·wield·i·ness  /-dE-n&s/ noun

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European Union leaders agreed Saturday on the key points of a treaty meant to strengthen the bloc’s foreign policy role and eliminate unwieldy bureaucracy.

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The European Parliament and national assemblies would get more say over decision-making, strengthening the EU’s democratic credentials.