German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2nd, R), European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (2nd, L) and President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering (R) attend a press conference in Berlin, capital of Germany, on March 25, 2007. Merkel appealed to EU countries on Sunday to support the roadmap which will be presented soon by Germany for the revival of the constitution. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BERLIN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said on Sunday that the European Union members need to work even more closely to overcome the future challenges 50 years after the bloc was founded.

    Speaking at an official ceremony in the German Historical Museum in Berlin that marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, Merkel said the 27-member union need reforms to remain "strong and competitive."

    Every single EU country is "too weak to deal with the challenges," and therefore Europe needs a "even more closer cooperation," said Merkel.

    Merkel, as President of the European Council, singed Sunday the "Berlin Declaration" with President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.

    In the declaration, EU leaders pledged to build a "renewed common basis" by 2009, even though the promise falls short of mentioning the word "constitution."

    The constitution, designed to streamline the EU regulations and raise its efficiency, is virtually dead after two of the EU founding members, France and the Netherlands, rejected the draft treaty in separate referendums in 2005.

    Merkel, who is expected to present a roadmap for the revival of the constitution by the end of Germany's EU presidency in June, has hoped for a strong push for the constitution during the upcoming summit in Berlin.