Letter casts a shadow over summit talks

Summary:

Critics of Franco-German plans to prevent any one country from vetoing moves towards closer integration by other EU member states are expected to go on the attack at the Madrid summit.

The radical scheme emerged in a three-page letter from German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and French President Jacques Chirac to the summit host, Spanish Premier Felipe Gonzalez, arguing that this was essential to prevent an enlarged Union from languishing in the doldrums.