European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Margot Wallström seems to be faltering. Last night she gave an interview to Swedish TV (SVT’s Agenda Europa program) in which she calls for the “period of reflection” over the European Constitution to be extended for several years. Hitherto her plans had been for the rejected Constitution to be discussed at the final summit of the Austrian Presidency in June of next year.

This wobble in the headlights of public opinion will not go down well in the European Parliament, where they are building up to vote on the Duffenhuber report, which calls for the initiative to be given to the Parliament, as the only institution so cut off from reality that it believes that it can force the Constitution through, without reference to public opinion.