EPP congress in bid to unblock EU Constitution impasse

Members of the European People's Party (EPP) - the largest political group in the European Parliament - met in Rome yesterday to find a way forward on how to unblock the current "period of reflection" over the future of the EU Constitution.

A day before the official opening of a two-day congress, the political bureau of the EPP discussed a draft manifesto to be submitted to the congress calling for the implementation of the EU Constitution. Nationalist MEPs Simon Busuttil and David Casa participated in the discussion.

This year's congress coincides with the 30th anniversary of the founding of the EPP and delegates will elect a new president, vice-presidents, a general secretary and a treasurer. Over 800 representatives of 68 political parties from 35 European countries that are full members, associate members or have an observer status will attend the congress. Among those attending will be 15 European prime ministers.

The Nationalist Party, a member of the EPP, is represented in Rome by Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg who will be addressing the congress today.

EU leaders addressing the congress will include the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and France's presidential hopeful, Home Affairs Minister Nicolas Sarkozy.

A draft "Rome manifesto" agreed by the EPP's main officials yesterday reiterates the European centre-right's commitment to the EU Constitution. However, it leaves key issues on its precise ratification process and implementation open for discussion at the congress.

The draft conclusions state that "the reforms foreseen in the constitutional treaty - which were the result of a broad consensus between the representatives of member states, national parliaments, the European Parliament and the European Commission - need to be implemented. An institutionally paralysed Union would contribute to the scepticism of citizens towards the European Union in general".

The document underlines the need of a series of reforms proposed by the Constitution, such as a new voting system for member states, an EU minister of foreign affairs, and the charter of fundamental rights enshrined in the treaty.

The pre-congress session, called a study-day, was dominated by the Italian political scene in view of national elections to be held in a few days time.

Mr Berlusconi said that historically Italian governments usually manage to remain in power for an average of 11 months. Currently, the government structure has been changed; it is more stable and the Berlusconi government is the first government to stand for a full legislative term.

Mr Berlusconi said there is more stability in Italy, fewer MPs inside the Italian institutions, a new federal system has been adopted and the duties of the Prime Minister will be increased in the future. Public administration has been updated and now citizens can do almost everything via the internet. He said that several infrastructural projects, such as the high-speed train and better road connections, have been realised.