PARIS, June 15 (Xinhuanet) -- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has called for "at least a pause" in the ratification process of the European Union constitution and prudence of the EU member states.

    "The best solution... may be prudence, I would advise at least a pause, a reflection, to give some time," he said on France 3 television.

    "Because there is actually a risk there," Barroso said, referring to possible further rejection to the charter in the wake of French and Dutch "no" vote to the treaty. "I see it, I feel it," he added.

    "That is why I must ask the heads of state and government to honestly explain their situation, (and) how they see the referendum process," he said.

    Barroso made the remarks ahead of the upcoming EU summit to beheld on June 16 and 17 in Brussels to decide whether to continue the ratification process after the massive rejection by the French and Dutch voters to the charter.

    "That's not true, when most of France says 'no' then we have a problem," he said, adding "it was up to individual heads of state and government to say when and how they wish to pursue ratification of the treaty, whether they want to do it straight away or whether they want to give it more time".

    He said Europe has its problems in its integration process. "It is not the first time, nor the last time. We will get over the problem, which is real, but which we are capable of overcoming," he said.

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair who visited Paris on Tuesday also called for a period of reflection of some months for Europe after French and Dutch voters rejected the EU constitution.

    "If there was a referendum in most parts of Europe at the moment, the answer would be 'no'," Blair said at a news conference in the British Embassy in Paris after talks with French President Jacques Chirac.

    "The response should be to reconnect the priorities of the European Union with the priorities of the people of Europe ... so that we can give Europe the debate it needs and the direction it needs," he said. Enditem