European Union foreign ministers agreed yesterday to resume negotiations next month to try and resolve differences over Europe's first-ever constitution. Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, whose country holds the EU presidency, presented a tightened agenda to 25 current and soon-to-be EU government minister meeting in Luxembourg.

　　Talks over the charter, which aims to streamline decision-making in the expanded bloc, collapsed in December when Spain and Poland rejected a proposed new voting system they felt gave too much power to the EU's biggest countries. Chances for progress improved with the March election of a new government in Spain. Poland also has signaled a willingness to compromise. Ministers will resume negotiations again on May 17.