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Europe in 'Profound Crisis' EU President Says
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=DEE1F1:3919ACA

Jean-Claude Juncker's comment follows collapse of budget talks during
two-day summit in Brussels The head of the European Union says the
trading bloc is in a "profound crisis."







Jean-Claude Juncker (file photo)Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude
Juncker used the term early Saturday, to characterize the divide among
EU states after 15 hours of budget talks collapsed at a two-day summit
in Brussels.

He says some members only want a big free-trade market, while other
countries in the 25-nation bloc want a politically integrated Europe.

The talks were aimed at setting a budget for 2007 through 2013.

Some of the EU's newest members, among the poorest in the bloc, are
concerned the stalemate will tie up billions of dollars in aid needed
to modernize their economies.

The budget failure came a day after the EU extended its deadline for
ratifying a constitution following failed French and Dutch referendums
on the charter.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


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