Italië en Spanje tegenstander van kerneuropa geleid door Grote Drie (en)

The foreign ministers of Spain and Italy have both spoken out against the 'big three' - the UK, France and Germany - running EU affairs.

Speaking after a bilateral meeting late on Friday evening, Spanish foreign minister Ana Palacio said, "Europe needs to speak with many voices and a directorate would lead to tensions", according to Italian agency Apcom.

Echoing Spanish fears, Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said, "the idea of a directorate worries us. It worries us, not just because we are a big country in Europe, but because we think that Europe should be a mechanism in which power is shared rather than concentrated".

Mr Frattini has expressed his concern about the issue before, but the support of Spain suggests that a growing body of opinion is against the idea of a core Europe led by France, Germany and the UK.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has also expressed his concern. Asked about the meeting while visiting Slovenia, Mr Berlusconi said it is understandable that with enlargement some countries may decide to move forward with reinforced cooperation, but he warned against the emergence of "national egoisms".

The meeting between the three leaders will take place on 18 February.

Messers Blair, Chirac and Schröder will discuss, amongst other things, how to restart the failed Constitution talks and the European economy.