German chancellor Angela Merkel has told MEPs she does not intend to re-launch a broad debate on the revised EU constitution but rather focus on confidential talks with national governments, with the aim of having a commonly agreed treaty adopted by 2009.
“The reflection pause is over. By June, we must reach a decision on what to do with the constitution,” said Ms Merkel in her first speech to the European Parliament as the EU president on Wednesday (17 January).
“It is in the interest of Europe, its member states and its citizens, to bring this process to a successful conclusion by the next European Parliament elections in early 2009,” she stated, adding that it would be a “historic failure” to miss this deadline.
Full article: http://euobserver.com/9/23290
Full speech: Merkel speech to the EP 17 January 2007