The biggest decision by EU leaders at their Spring summit in Brussels was indecision as they shelved their embattled constitution for at least two years.

Instead the focus will be on boosting the economies of the 25 member nations and improving immigration controls.

A year-long reflection period has failed to break a deadlock over whether to abandon the constitution or persuade France and the Netherlands, whose voters rejected the document, to hold new referendums.

Fifteen other EU states have already ratified the document, meant to allow the EU to better take in new members by streamlining decision making. The constitution needs unanimous backing for it to take effect.

Anthony Browne, The Times Belgium Correspondent, said: "The constitution was badly killed off by French and Dutch voters last year.

"The trouble is that no government can agree on a way forward - whether to resuscitate it, come up with a new treaty or drop the idea in total.

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