Prodi pushes for original EU constitution text

Italian prime minister Romano Prodi endorsed the original European constitution text in a strongly-worded address to MEPs in Strasbourg.

Prodi defended the main points of the constitutional treaty signed in Rome in 2004, such as a permanent EU foreign minister and EU president, the establishment of an EU legal personality and the charter of fundamental rights of the EU citizens. 

“Now the time has come to listen to those who have ratified the 2004 treaty…we should think twice before putting it behind us”, he told the chamber.

“If we are to achieve results… [we need] stronger and more effective European institutions,” he added.

The former European commission president made it clear his government would not endorse a cherry-picked compromise text.   

“If such compromise is not convincing, then we won’t sign it”, he said.

The centre-left politician also said if leaders fail to broker a deal in June under the auspices of the German presidency, his country might explore with similar-minded member states a way to go ahead with the constitution, drawing from the experience with the euro.  

“We do not necessarily all need to go together at the same speed in Europe”, he said, while stressing that any such forward-looking grouping would always leave the door open to the remaining member-states.

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