BRUSSELS, June 15 (Xinhuanet) -- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Wednesday the EU leaders should take "a pause for reflection" on the ratification of the European constitution treaty.

   

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Wednesday the EU leaders should take "a pause for reflection" on the ratification of the European constitution treaty. (Photo: Xinhua)

 Barroso, chief of the European Union (EU)'s executive arm, madethe call on the eve of the EU summit where leaders of the EU's 25 member states will discuss the crisis after the recent French and Dutch rejection of the EU constitutional treaty in referendums.

    He said that the leaders cannot pretend it had not faced rejections nor "throw in the towel" on it.

    "We should use the break to deepen our reflection on this," Barroso said.

    Also the EU's current rotating presidency Luxembourg has abandoned its previous hard line position that ratification shouldcontinue despite the constitution crisis.

    Luxembourg Europe minister Nicolas Schmit said earlier at the European Parliament that a postponement would be like an "indefinite suspension" and added that "perhaps we need to agree ona period."

    Luxembourg, holding the next referendum on the matter on July 10 and normally considered a strongly pro-European country, has also seen the "no" side gain strongly in the polls.

    France and Germany have been insisting the ratification processshould go on but Britain, which will take over the EU's six-month rotating presidency from July 1, has already voiced support for the suspension of the EU constitution ratification process. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was "more clear than ever before" that his own country had been right to put its referendum plans on ice.

    It is widely expected that the EU leaders will agree on a period of rest during their meeting on Thursday and Friday in Brussels. Enditem