Smaller EU countries dig their heels in

Representatives of at least 17 small and medium-sized European countries are to hold talks in New York on 23 September 2003 over the new European constitution. The meeting is a clear sign to the 'Big Five' (France, Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain) that smaller countries feel they are being 'bullied' into accepting a constitution which would shift the balance of power to the larger Member States.