"From now to the 2009 election, Europe has its future at stake. This is about deciding what the EU needs, what we all need, to be able to face the challenges that the world throws at us". The Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, spoke in the afternoon from the Strasbourg floor, where the plenary meeting of the EU Parliament is under way. Asked by the president Hans-Gert Poettering to discuss the "Future of Europe", Prodi sent two powerful messages: the need to pass a constitution-like treaty before the election of the EU Parliament, which is due in two years’ time; otherwise, the Union would be running "at two different speeds". As to the Constitution, explained the speaker, "we are not starting from scratch": "in October 2004, all European countries signed a Treaty, and 18 of them went so far as to ratify it. In the last two years, the reasons of the wavering ones have been heeded, and that is partly understandable. The time has come to heed those who ratified that treaty". According to the Prime Minister, the EU needs institutional reforms, "new rules", "a balance that is worthy of its name", "real policies for the big challenges that today’s world throws at us". (continued)
