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 on Sunday vowed to set a "roadmap" for the stalled constitution of the European Union (EU) by the end of June.
Merkel, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said there was willingness among leaders of the 27 EU member states that a decision should be made before Germany's EU presidency ends on June 30.
The leaders gathered in Berlin to celebrate the 50th birthday of the EU.
"The problem would not be solved by postponing it," Merkel told a press conference after the informal summit meeting. "We also agreed that the EU, as it is today, is not capable enough of taking action."
A draft EU constitution was vetoed in referendums in France and the Netherlands in the summer of 2005, putting the bloc's member states in a period of "pause and reflection" until June 2006.
The document might have to be renamed but its substance should be kept, European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pottering told the press.
Merkel, however, would not comment on its content, saying the leaders did not go into details of the constitution on Sunday.
Nevertheless, she said the text has been signed by all 27 states, indicating that the text should be treated seriously.
The Berlin Declaration, signed Sunday by Merkel, Pottering and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, avoided mentioning the EU constitution, obviously as a result of objection from some member states, particularly the Czech Republic.
"We are united in our aim of placing the European Union on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009," reads the declaration.
Prague has vehemently opposed a deadline for the revival of the constitution by 2009 when it will hold the rotating EU presidency.
Merkel said future deliberations on the EU constitution, including bilateral consultations, might take place in secrecy, just like the way the Treaties of Rome was negotiated 50 years ago.
BERLIN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Berlin Declaration, signed on Sunday on the occasion of the 50th birthday of the European Union (EU), avoided mentioning the EU constitution.
"We are united in our aim of placing the European Union on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009," reads the declaration.
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