Ten EU foreign ministers met for a two-day informal meeting in Riva Del Garda, Italy, on Friday. Scheduled a month before the start of an intergovernmental conference (IGC) in Rome, where EU representatives will debate the draft for a European constitution, the meeting in Riva was meant to be a forum for ministers to iron out remaining constitution-related differences. Also on the agenda: how the EU can henceforth present a united front in foreign and security policy matters and timely topics including the Middle East peace process.

Events unfolding in Iraq, particularly the latest U.S. draft of a U.N. resolution paving the way for more international involvement, may test EU members' willingness to proceed together. And debates over the future distribution of power within the EU that were outlined in the draft version of the constitution may also prove divisive.

Ministers debate Iraq resolution

Following the months leading up to the war in Iraq -- European nations were split, rendering efforts to create a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) ineffective -- foreign ministers have been looking for ways to improve cooperation and speak with one voice (or at least a more harmonious sounding chorus).

The EU’a high representative for common foreign and security policy, Javier Solana, presented a “common strategic concept” at the EU Summit in Saloniki, Greece, in June, and he is scheduled to discuss it in further detail in Riva. It’s hoped that a “common concept” will help foster cooperation on matters relating to foreign and security policy and help avoid such public divisions in the future.

But as they look for ways to improve cooperation, it is unclear whether or not the ministers will be able to reach an agreement over the United State’s draft resolution on Iraq. “There’s bound to be a bit of back-and-forth in the corridors on the Iraq resolution,” said one EU diplomat heading to the meeting.

France and Germany, both opponents of the invasion, have thus far been reluctant to lend their support. At a bilateral meeting in Dresden, Germany, on Thursday, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder warned that the resolution did not promise to quickly cede power to the Iraqis or the United Nations. Meanwhile, Britain is considering sending more troops.

Iraq will also be a topic of conversation on Saturday, when the ministers discuss the unravelling peace talks in the Middle East and look for ways to get the process back on track.

Big countries square off against small countries

A month before the opening of the IGC in Rome on Oct. 4, the ministers will discuss the draft proposal for a European constitution. The holders of the current EU presidency, Italy, are hoping to wrap up the IGC by the end of the year. But they may face an uphill battle, as there are still some remaining divisions -- primarily in how power should be distributed in the reformed EU.

France and Germany, despite some misgivings, have both agreed to accept the constitution as it is, with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer warning that efforts to change any portion could result in the unravelling of carefully negotiated compromises.

Smaller EU members, led by Austria and Finland, are not happy with the draft constitution. They object to the idea of a permanent EU president to replace the current rotating presidency and proposals to streamline the European Commission, whereby each member state will no longer have a permanent representative. They argue both changes would undermine the representation of smaller countries.

Whether or not the ministers will confront these issues head-on or leave that to their representatives at the IGC remains to be seen. One EU official thought the negotiations would be carefully controlled: “Today it’s about procedure, Italy will be determined not to let them discuss the substance at this stage.”

Anti-globalization protesters crash the party

As the foreign ministers took up their agenda, anti-globalisation activists hoped to gain attention for their issues. A group of 400 gathered outside the building and pushed back police lines, chanting, “We have nothing to hide.” They were protesting EU trade and foreign policies.

Though the activists usually pass-up this kind of informal meeting, they were likely hoping to gain momentum running up to the World Trade Organization Conference scheduled to begin in Mexico next week. Their numbers are expected to swell to well over 20,000 on the second day of the informal gathering on Saturday.

Inside and outside the closed doors of this meeting, the number of divergent voices -- offering opinions over the future of world politics and the European Union -- is growing.