He argued that the options outlined might encourage Eurosceptics to think they could opt out of responsibilities of EU membership while retaining the economic advantages. The draft treaty, which would incorporate a charter of fundamental rights into law, specifically rules out ideas for a new president of the EU drawn from the ranks of current or past EU leaders – something that was championed by Mr Blair.On the eve of Mr Prodi’s launch, at a heated five-and-a half hour meeting, Neil Kinnock, the Commission’s vice-president, opposed plans to eject any member state of the EU from full membership if they did not ratify the new constitution. An internal rebellion was sparked at the EU yesterday when Romano Prodi, the European Commission’s president, launched a draft constitution for Europe.
Pitching him in opposition to Tony Blair and some of his own commissioners, Mr Prodi said EU nations who opposed constitutional reform should be ejected from the union.He also demanded an end to national vetoes in decision-making, a host of new powers for the European Commission and a Commission president elected by MEPs.Mr Prodi’s blueprint, drafted amid secrecy and codenamed Penelope, calls for majority voting for foreign policy and taxation, a new “Foreign Secretary” based in the European Commission, and for the EU to adopt a Nato-style mutual defence guarantee for its member states. The lack of transparency in the system undermines the valuable work MEPs do representing their country and constituents.”Graham Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said the MEPs who blocked reform showed “a lack of respect for the reputation of the European Parliament”.Lord Inglewood, the Conservative spokesman for legal and constitutional affairs in the European Parliament, described the vote as a “missed opportunity”.. Most MEPs favour harmonised salaries but would not promise yesterday to clean up their expenses regime.Mr Cox, who had hoped to use a new resolution as the basis to negotiate a new deal on pay with European Union leaders, said he was still “confident that further progress can be made very soon”.But Gary Titley, Labour leader in the European Parliament, said: “MEPs are dragged into disrepute by an expenses system which has no place in a modern EU.

They take cheaper flights and pocket the difference.Under the deal proposed by Mr Cox, MEPs would earn a basic salary of about €8,500 a month – equivalent at current exchange rates to about £62,000 a year. MEPs have rejected a compromise plan to reform their pay and perks, dealing a severe blow to prospects of the European Parliament shedding its “gravy train” image before the EU expands in 2004.
The move was also a personal blow to the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, who has called for reform since 1999 and whose proposal was defeated yesterday.MEPs from the 15 EU countries earn the same salary as national MPs, creating large disparities in earnings between, for example, affluent Austrians and poorly-paid Spaniards and Greeks.Many MEPs compensate by abusing the system of travel expenses, which allows them to claim for full-price air fares without providing proof of what they paid. It has so far housed 48 women who were tricked into prostitution.. The Safe House for Women was registered as a non-profit organisation in 1999. Women are largely regarded as second-rate citizens and family violence is an unspoken shame.Ms Raicevic originally started a shelter for battered women but with the increase in human-trafficking operations created the “safe house”. “Then, one thing led to another.”Montenegro, the sister republic of Serbia in the rump Yugoslav Federation, is home to a community that cherishes conservative values. “At first, it was violence against women in general that attracted my attention,” Ms Raicevic says.

“I hope the battle against this evil can be effective.”Ms Raicevic, 55, who has three children and two grandchildren, had the idea of helping women while working at the healthcare centre in the Montenegrin capital. “I’m doing this because many women have become victims of human trafficking and sex slavery,” Ms Raicevic said. But there are precious few warm family stories to be heard here.Any warmth and comfort comes from Ljiljana Raicevic and a group of volunteers who run the only shelter for human trafficking and sex-slavery victims in Montenegro. Organised crime was forced to turn to other business in the changed political climate in the area after the fall of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic two years ago, which led to laws and regulations legalising the tobacco trade.’Our battle against this evil must be effective’By Vesna Peric ZimonjicThe safe House for Women in Podgorica is based in an ordinary and modest two-floor family building. “We had to go public after hearing her story, which is similar to so many others.” So far, 48 women have found shelter in the safe house.”We practically dared the government, the police and the judiciary to say what they know about what had been heard through the grapevine for years,” Ms Raicevic said.Analysts say that human trafficking has replaced the once profitable practice of cigarette smuggling in Montenegro. She tried to run away several times and even to commit suicide, but eventually fled the hospital and ended up in the shelter.Among her clients were police officials who were in charge of deporting foreign nationals caught in prostitution, but also some of the lawyers of the recently arrested officials.”S C is a highly intelligent and educated person, a former athlete,” Ms Raicevic said.

Mr Vukcevic denies the allegations, as well as the rumours that he was willing to talk about the affair in exchange for not being arrested.S C gave details of houses, caf?and nightclubs where she “turned tricks” and, with colleagues, was beaten and sexually abused. In perfect Serbian, which she learned over the years, the Moldavian woman gave the names of the 20 most frequent “customers”.She alleged that besides Mr Piperovic and his friends, these included the State Prosecutor of Montenegro, Bozidar Vukcevic. She was sold several times by the “bosses” who owned her and on one occasion was traded for a Mercedes car.As a sex slave, she entertained prominent members of the judiciary, police and political officials. Instead, she ended up deprived of her passport and becoming a sex slave. S C described how she came to Montenegro four years ago after being promised a well-paid job. The session with the magistrate lasted for six hours, the sources say. Ljiljana Raicevic, the head of the shelter, recorded the woman’s testimony and gave it to the police.The woman, identified only by her initials “S C”, repeated her story of sex slavery to the investigative judge, Ana Vukovic, in Podgorica two days ago.