Czech, German ministers believe in progress regarding EU treaty

Czech and German foreign ministers, Karel Schwarzenberg and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, have said they believe that the European Union will reach an agreement on its institutional reform. Speaking at a news conference after their meeting in Berlin of Friday, Mr Schwarzenberg and Mr Steinmeier also appreciated the fact that the possible stationing of elements of the US missile defence shield in the Czech Republic and Poland is being discussed multilaterally. Mr Steinmeier's Social Democrats have challenged the missile defence system, while the Christian Democrats of Prime Minister Angela Merkel are more open on the issue. Germany, which is now presiding over the EU, wants to submit the draft of a new European treaty at an EU summit in June. The Czech Republic is one of the opponents of the EU constitution.