UK says flexible on EU public prosecutor role

Britain is prepared to be flexible on the remit of a new European public prosecutor as stated in an EU constitution provided the creation of the post remains subject to unanimity, British officials said yesterday.

Other member states want to create the post to combat terrorism and cross-border crimes like corruption, fraud and people trafficking, but London has said in the past it saw no need for it.

But a government official said yesterday that the post of public prosecutor had never been a sticking point for Britain in negotiations over an EU treaty, provided the text stated that all member states must approve it.

"The European public prosecutor has never been a 'red line' for us," the official said. "The original text states that for this post to be created every member state must approve it."

The Financial Times, quoting UK officials, said yesterday that London was set to soften its opposition to the creation of the post, and was now willing to accept that the prosecutor would tackle international crime and terrorism.

Last year London said it wanted to limit the prosecutor's powers to tackling financial crime against the EU budget.

The newspaper said the change could help secure a deal on an EU constitution, which leaders hope to agree at a June 17-18 summit in Brussels.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Sunday he hoped EU leaders could agree on a constitution at the summit but added that London was committed to keeping its national veto on tax, social security and foreign policy.

The European Union believes a new constitution is essential to the smooth running of the bloc now that it has expanded to 25 members from 15.

Spain and Poland put forward new suggestions on Saturday for a voting system in the expanded EU, the issue which led to the collapse of negotiations on a constitution in December.

The two medium-sized states wanted to preserve their outsized voting rights, won in the 2000 Nice treaty, but ran into opposition from EU heavyweights France and Germany.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said on Sunday there was a "50:50" chance of striking a deal before the end of June, when Ireland's six-month presidency of the bloc ends. "Every country has a problem with something," he said.