” “"We want to devote all of next year to discussing with the citizens, speaking with them, about the future of the European Union. We have to understand, all together, that the EU needs the institutional changes" that are contained in the Constitution; "in addition, we must reflect on the need to open Europe to the world". Margot Wallström, vice-president of the EU Commission, explains with these words to SIR the intentions that have driven the European Union to promote many events for the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaties that established the EEC (March 25th 1957). "These are important steps for the future walk of the integration and certainly they cannot be taken by the political leaders of the member states alone. The citizens too must be involved", ensuring their voice will reach the EU institutions. Even if, adds the Swedish commissioner, "a real political leadership cannot be missing in the EU". Some initiatives for the fiftieth anniversary of the EEC have been illustrated today at the EU Parliament in Strasbourg: as everybody knows, a special summit will be held on March 25th 2007 in Berlin with the heads of state and government who will proclaim a statement about the future of the European Union. (to be continued)” “
