Softer draft of fiscal treaty opens door for UK

Less stringent constitutional demands, a weaker role for the EU commission and a provision allowing the UK to join at a later stage are among the most recent changes to the draft intergovernmental treaty on fiscal discipline, to be signed by leaders in March.

The third draft - distributed to EU member states' negotiators on Tuesday (10 January) evening and seen by EUobserver - has softened the obligation to enshrine a "golden rule" on balanced budgets into the constitutions of the 26 me...