February 2001 World Headlines

Thursday, February 15, 2001 - Web posted at 10:02:43 AM GMT

EC president calls for an all out debate on Europe's future

STRASBOURG - European Commission President Romano Prodi has called for a "no holds barred" debate on the long-term future of Europe and its potential as a world power.

In a state of the EU address to the European Parliament, Prodi said the European Union had accomplished "an immense amount of useful things" since it rose from the ashes of World War II a half-century ago."

"But somewhere along the way, we lost the thread of agreement among our member states about where we are going," he said."

"Behind subtle protocols and increasingly complex formulas, our disagreements are less and less easily hidden."

"What Europe needs now - as it prepares for eastward enlargement and the debut next January of euro notes and coins - is "frank and open discussion about the substance of the union."

""It has to be a no holds barred constitutional debate on the fundamental nature of the union," he said."

"Are we all clear that we want to build something that can aspire to be a world power?

" Prodi asked.

"In other words, not just a trading bloc, but a political entity?

" - Nampa-Sapa-AFP

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