"In the Berlin statement of March 25th, the member states reasserted their will to arrive at the election of the European Parliament in 2009 with a new Treaty". Angela Merkel, German Chancellor and current president of the EU, sent a letter to the leaders of the 27 member states with the schedule of the summit of June 21st and 22nd. Merkel reminded the heads of state and government of "the important challenges that await us, which ask the Union to take action and give political and legal legitimisation". "After a two years’ pause for reflection she states , the public opinion is waiting for us to make all the necessary reforms": so, "the time has come to launch the roadmap to reform the Treaties". According to the schedule, the summit will start late on Thursday afternoon and will continue on Friday. But the summit might have a "sequel" after the end of the official schedule. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Berlin, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, explains that "the central subject of the Council will be the EU reforming process", and about this "there are still many open questions, such as the status that should be given to the Treaty, the symbols (anthem and flag), the value to be given to the Charter of Fundamental Rights", the "pillar-like" structure of the Community. Other items on the agenda include foreign policy issues, such as the situation in the Middle East and in the Balkans.
