ROME, Oct. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said he hoped the ratification of the European Union (EU)Constitution by member states could be completed before early 2006.

    "We hope all EU member states, or at least almost all of them could complete the ratification process within 2005, and the process would last till early 2006 at the most," Frattini said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on the eve of the signing of the EU Constitution on Oct. 29 in Rome.

    Leaders from 25 EU member states finalized the EU Constitution,the bloc's first constitution, on June 18 during the EU summit in Brussels after years of bargains, including the failed talks in last December's EU summit in Brussels.

    Italy's signing of the EU Constitution is a "historic step" forthe construction of the EU, said Frattini, who had participated inthe tough talks on the Constitution when Italy was holding the EU presidency during the second half of 2003.

    "The question we are facing now is how to ratify and implement the Constitution as soon as possible," said the minister.

    As there are "different voices" on the European integration among some EU member states, measures have to be taken to "press" these states to ratify the Constitution as soon as possible, he said.

    Frattini vowed his country will "exert every efforts" for the timely ratification of the Constitution.

    The minister spoke highly of the integration efforts made by the EU, adding that the EU wishes to act as an important polar in a multi-polared world.

    Frattini believed the EU, which wishes to play a vital role in the international arena, must play a more important part on the global anti-terrorism front.

    The minister revealed that Italy will submit a proposal on establishing an EU anti-terrorism action strategy to the EU summit,to be held in Brussels in December.

    The document comprises two proposals: one is to set up an anti-terrorism network within the EU; the other is to urge the EU to take common political actions, especially enhance dialogue with the Islamic world and Arabic countries.

    On EU-China relations, Frattini said marked progress has been made over the past 12 months, citing the signing of a tourism pactas a "good example". Enditem