Luxembourg, the current presidency of the European Union (EU), proposed on Thursday to freeze the ratification process of the EU constitution until next year.

The proposal was tabled to the EU summit, which opened here on Thursday evening to salvage the EU charter after two "no" from France and the Netherlands, two founding states of the bloc.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs the the summit, urged a 9-12 month freeze on ratification process to allow the EU to find a way out to settle the crisis.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso favored the idea, who said on Wednesday that the EU leaders should take "a pause for reflection" on the ratification of the European constitution treaty.

However, it was reported that the conservatives were unable to agree on a common position at a preparatory meeting because Malta and Slovenia opposed any pause.

"Some countries want to go forward with ratification. On the other hand, many are asking for a collective phase of reflection. This is the situation that we are discussing," Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel was quoted as saying.

Facing the complicated situation, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said this was "one of the most difficult summits we have ever had."

French President Jacques Chirac has proposed to hold an emergent summit by the end of June to tackle the tough issues the EU is facing.

A Luxembourg diplomat told Xinhua that the summit could be prolonged to a certain time, but so far there is no possibility to last till Saturday noon.

Source: Xinhua