June 24, 2007: When Angela Merkel became president of the EU's council of ministers in January 2007, she had six months to achieve her goal of ending the impasse created by the rejection of the proposed EU constitution by French and Dutch voters two years ago. Shortly before 5 a.m. yesterday morning the German chancellor had achieved her goal, but only after an all-night negotiating session and a couple of compromises. At the concluding press conference, a thankful EU commission president José Barroso gave her flowers and even voiced his appreciation for her negotiating skills in German (Barroso only speaks English at EU press conferences) by saying: "Dear Angela, in the name of Europe I extend heartfelt thanks and look forward to continued cooperation."

Months of patient behind-the-scenes negotiating by Merkel's diplomats were almost torpedoed by Polish opposition to the proposed "basic treaty" for the EU, which will replace the failed constitution. Poland's main concern was the "double majority" decision-making procedure, which in Poland's view discriminates against smaller EU countries. Instead of a system based on actual population, Poland wanted the "square root" solution, using the square root of a country's population to determine its voting power. The Polish proposal would have meant that Poland and the Czech Republic would have more voting power than Germany if they voted together, although their combined population is only about 65 percent of Germany's. Using growth projections, the Poles had even argued that their country deserved a larger voting representation because Poland's population would be nearly double what it is now if it had not been decimated by Germany's invasion and occupation in World War II.

During the two day summit chancellor Merkel had six meetings with Polish President Lech Kaczynski. On Friday evening his twin brother Jaroslaw – the Polish prime minister – threatened to veto the agreement that all other EU members had accepted. Then Angela Merkel got tough. One hour after the Polish prime minister made his announcement on Polish television (he was in Warsaw), Merkel had a statement released saying that the work on the text of the "basic treaty" could be started without Poland. Some late night phone calls to Warsaw by other EU leaders helped convince Jaroslaw Kaczynski to accept the proposal, but only after a compromise was reached on delaying the full implementation of the "double majority" system until 2017.

Yesterday's agreement in Brussels is a mandate for an EU conference by the end of the year to finalize the wording of the new "basic treaty". It must then be approved by all 27 EU member states. The proposed timetable calls for implementation of the treaty by 2009. Some key aspects of the new treaty will be:

• The new "basic treaty" will replace the treaty of Nice agreed upon in 2000 and is intended to streamline the European Union with its larger membership. The new treaty will not be called a constitution.

• The new "basic treaty" will not mandate either a European flag or anthem to replace national flags and anthems.

• The European Council (meaning EU summit meeting and the overall guidance of the EU) will be headed by a President who will have a 2.5 year term. The Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers shall continue to be on a six month rotating basis.

• The new "double majority" voting system for EU decisions will take effect in 2014, but Poland will retain its single nation veto right until 2017. Under the new system, a decision will be valid if it is accepted by at least 55 percent of member countries representing at least 65 percent of the EU's total population. When fully implemented in 2017, the current single nation veto right will end.

• For the first time, the EU will officially recognize the possibility of a "two-speed" Europe. Countries like Great Britain will be allowed to decline participation in matters of legal and police jurisdiction and social policies. If no unanimous agreement can be achieved on a proposal within four months, those countries desiring to proceed with the agreement may do so without the dissenters.

• Candidates for membership will be required to respect the EU value system and commit themselves to promoting those values. (This may infuence negotiations with Turkey on that country's bid to join the EU.) In addition, for the first time the EU will officially recognize the possibility that a member country may decide to leave the European Union.

. Once ratified by all EU members, the new treaty will provide the framework for a smaller group of EU countries to proceed on the path to full political and military integration. The legal groundwork for a "core Europe" will be laid in th next six months.