Britain plans informal EU get-together

United Press International

"Britain plans informal EU get-together

BRUSSELS, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Britain plans to cancel the traditional European summit in October and substitute an informal meeting of national leaders.

The EU Observer reports that means the 25 national leaders will not be escorted by foreign and finance ministers, giving them a chance to talk off the cuff.

It also means a discussion of funding the EU after the failure of the June budget summit is to be postponed until Austria assumes the presidency in January.

The EU is in crisis following the French rejection of the constitution. The union is divided by social policy, with Britain and Ireland favoring an open-market approach while France and Germany are reluctant to abandon wage protection."