Germany's Merkel warns and woos Poland for stronger Europe

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2007

WARSAW (AFP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel Friday warned Poland against blocking the European Union's stalled constitution, while she also sought to woo Warsaw to Germany's side in building a stronger Europe.

Failure to endorse the EU constitution would be "a historic missed opportunity," Merkel said in a speech at Warsaw University shortly after arriving here on a visit both "as German chancellor and president of the EU."

Led by Poland's euro-sceptic identical twins, President Lech Kaczynski and his brother Jaroslaw, the prime minister, Warsaw last month urged the EU to ditch attempts to revive the constitution which was put on ice two years ago when French and Dutch voters rejected it.

"The time for reflection is past. It's time for decisions. I pledge...