EU:A so-called Berlin Declaration marking the 50th birthday of the European Union will call for reform of its institutions but is expected to avoid reference to God, writes Jamie Smythin Brussels.
A text of the two-page declaration was due to be sent to EU governments late last night by Germany, the current holder of the EU presidency.
Early drafts show it is signed in the name of "we, the peoples of Europe" and calls for the union to reform its decision-making structures by 2009. It does not make any explicit reference to the EU constitution, which several states are implacably against ratifying in its current form.
In an attempt to get all 27 EU states to support the declaration, German diplomats watered down a previous text that called for institutional reform. It now says: "We are united in the common goal of renewing, in time for the 2009 European parliamentary elections, the common foundation on which the European Union is built."
The declaration will be signed by German chancellor Angela Merkel, representing the presidency; president of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso; and president of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering. Prime ministers attending the event, including Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, will not sign it.
The draft text celebrates the past achievements of the union while pointing to some future challenges. It is written in language intended to be comprehensible, rather than the Eurospeak typical of most EU texts.
"Our continent was ravaged by war, its economy was in ruins and it was divided by ideological rifts. European integration has brought us peace and prosperity."
It adds: "Only together can we preserve our European social model in the future . . . The single market and the euro make us strong enough to mould increasing economic interlinkage and competition according to our values."
Dr Merkel wants to use Sunday's 50th anniversary celebrations to add momentum to her drive to overhaul EU institutions. This follows the rejection of the EU constitution by voters in France and the Netherlands in referendums in mid-2005. However, strong opposition from Britain and the Czech Republic for a constitution-style institutional agreement and several other member states will make it a difficult task.
Some Czech politicians have reacted angrily to the secretive way the text has been drawn up and the inclusion of references to the need for reform. Negotiator Jan Zahradil said: "We won't wreck the whole thing, but we will interpret it as we see fit, therefore not as a commitment to a new treaty or a version of it by 2009."