EU:Yesterday Italian prime minister Romano Prodi threw down the gauntlet to those EU leaders seeking to radically revise the EU constitution when he threatened to veto a new treaty.
In a speech at the European Parliament, Mr Prodi also said Italy would pursue a closer and more united Europe with other pro-European member states if an appropriate deal on a new treaty could not be found.
"Italy is very aware that a compromise is not an end in itself and if such a compromise is not convincing, then we won't sign it. And if that were to happen, then there would be a few countries that want to move towards a closer union," said Mr Prodi, raising the prospect of a two-speed Europe.
Mr Prodi is a staunch supporter of the EU constitution, which was signed by EU leaders when he was president of the European Commission. But he faces a battle at an EU summit next month, at which several states will propose watering down key aspects of the constitution. Britain, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic and France are seeking to revise parts of the constitution, which was rejected by French and Dutch voters in referendums in 2005. In particular, Britain is seeking to remove the post of EU foreign minister, the extension of qualified majority voting to justice and the charter of fundamental rights.
Mr Prodi warned that removing key elements such as these from a new treaty would prove a compromise capable of "destroying Europe". He singled out red-line areas Italy would fight to retain such as those that reinforced EU foreign and security policy, the move to a stable European presidency, the extension of qualified majority voting and changing from the pillar system in the EU, which defines the method of taking decisions at EU level in different policy areas.
Failure to keep these elements in a new treaty would consign Europe to becoming a "footnote of the western world", warned Mr Prodi. He also raised the prospect of creating a two-speed Europe with some member-states moving ahead at a faster pace towards European integration than others. He said he was convinced a compromise was possible between EU leaders next month but if they failed to get an agreement, no state should block others from making progress towards a united Europe.
"I don't think it is always necessary that we all need to go forward at the same speed . . . some of the most significant choices instituted in Europe such as the euro and Schengen have only been implemented in certain states. I hope in the future this same constructive approach will prevail and I hope this will happen rather than wielding vetos."
Mr Prodi's speech could raise tensions in Europe ahead of next month's EU summit, which will try to agree a mandate for talks on a treaty.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy is due in Brussels today for talks with commission president José Manuel Barroso on his vision of a slimmed-down treaty. Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende - a proponent of a mini treaty - is also scheduled to make an address at the parliament today.