When I heard this bit reported on the TV:

"There is no formal decision but... I think it would be unwise to bring in other member states apart from Bulgaria and Romania, which will be joining us soon, before we have sorted out the institutional question," Mr Barroso told reporters in Brussels.

I felt that it was possibly a correct statement. Politically motivated, but correct, in that some kind of constitutional issues do need to be worked out to make EU governance work and putting it into the growth timetable is probably the only way to do that.

To read this, however:

However, he said he "would like Croatia to join as quickly as possible, if it fulfils all the criteria".

Croatia has expressed hopes of completing its membership negotiations by 2009.

Mr Barroso made no mention of the other candidates for membership - Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which officially gained candidate status in 2005.

Indicates where he is really coming from and it is to me very sad. All he's really wanting to do is put a roadblock on negotiations with Turkey. He's not even actually interested in forcing a proper discussion on the constitutional issues (which having Croatia ready but hanging around might be seen to do...)