This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7037758.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Barroso and Brown to hold talks Barroso and Brown to hold talks
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso will meet on Thursday ahead of crucial talks on the new EU treaty.Gordon Brown and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso will meet on Thursday ahead of crucial talks on the new EU treaty.
After the meeting, which is expected to cover the UK's "red lines", the two will answer press questions in No 10. After the Downing Street meeting, which is expected to cover the UK's opt-outs, the two will answer questions.
It is expected the leaders will be grilled on the treaty's similarity to the abandoned constitution.It is expected the leaders will be grilled on the treaty's similarity to the abandoned constitution.
On Tuesday a committee of MPs described the treaty and the old constitution as "substantially equivalent".On Tuesday a committee of MPs described the treaty and the old constitution as "substantially equivalent".
During prime minister's questions on Wednesday Mr Brown again rejected Conservative demands for a referendum on the treaty.
The Tories say that, because the government gave an undertaking to let voters decide whether to accept the EU Constitution, it is now duty bound to do the same for the new treaty.
Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown's own MPs on the Labour-dominated European scrutiny committee had described as "misleading" any attempt to portray the treaty and the constitution as different.
"When Labour MPs say this, why should anyone believe him," he asked.
Red lines
Mr Brown said the government had had won vital concessions - or "red lines" - to protect the British national interest. He said it was these that set the treaty apart from the constitution.
But Foreign Secretary David Miliband later conceded that the government's message may not be getting through to all voters.
Labour MP Fabian Hamilton told Mr Miliband that one of his constituents had demanded a referendum, complaining that the treaty and constitution "were exactly the same thing".
Mr Miliband said the government's message may not be getting through
Mr Miliband told the Foreign Affairs Committee: "I think if you say we have to do a better job of explaining the difference, then fair dos."
Mr Brown will join other European leaders at an informal summit next week in Lisbon where they are expected to iron out any outstanding issues on the proposed treaty.
If agreement is reached as expected, the way is clear for the treaty to be formally agreed by the leaders at a conference in December.
Under a timetable envisioned by Germany and backed by several member states, the treaty should be ratified by the national parliaments of all EU member states by mid 2009, ahead of the next European elections.