This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6490437.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| EU birthday to mark 'new phase' | EU birthday to mark 'new phase' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| European Union leaders are due to meet in the German capital, Berlin, for the 27-nation bloc's 50th birthday party. | European Union leaders are due to meet in the German capital, Berlin, for the 27-nation bloc's 50th birthday party. |
| Chancellor Angela Merkel will use the celebrations to relaunch the debate on the EU's stalled constitution, rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. | Chancellor Angela Merkel will use the celebrations to relaunch the debate on the EU's stalled constitution, rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. |
| A declaration to be issued in Berlin will include a commitment to place the EU on a renewed basis within two years. | A declaration to be issued in Berlin will include a commitment to place the EU on a renewed basis within two years. |
| Correspondents say it will paper over deep divisions among the 27 EU members over the bloc's future direction. | Correspondents say it will paper over deep divisions among the 27 EU members over the bloc's future direction. |
| "We, the citizens of Europe, have united for the better," the draft Berlin declaration says, hailing some of the EU's achievements over the past 50 years, including open borders, the common market and the euro, and an end to Europe's Cold War divisions. | "We, the citizens of Europe, have united for the better," the draft Berlin declaration says, hailing some of the EU's achievements over the past 50 years, including open borders, the common market and the euro, and an end to Europe's Cold War divisions. |
| We are united in our aim of placing the EU on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009 Berlin Declaration excerpt | We are united in our aim of placing the EU on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009 Berlin Declaration excerpt |
| The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Berlin says there is no explicit mention of the most divisive issues; future enlargement to admit Turkey and the Balkan nations, and the EU constitution. | The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Berlin says there is no explicit mention of the most divisive issues; future enlargement to admit Turkey and the Balkan nations, and the EU constitution. |
| Just weeks before the French presidential elections, and faced with stiff opposition from the Czech Republic, Poland and Britain, Chancellor Merkel has chosen the vaguest of terms, our correspondent says. | Just weeks before the French presidential elections, and faced with stiff opposition from the Czech Republic, Poland and Britain, Chancellor Merkel has chosen the vaguest of terms, our correspondent says. |
| "We are united in our aim of placing the EU on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009," the statement says. | "We are united in our aim of placing the EU on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009," the statement says. |
| But a poll by a British Euro-sceptic think tank, Open Europe, suggests that three quarters of Europeans would like a referendum on any new treaty giving more power to the EU. | But a poll by a British Euro-sceptic think tank, Open Europe, suggests that three quarters of Europeans would like a referendum on any new treaty giving more power to the EU. |
| 'Great achievements' | 'Great achievements' |
| According to the poll, carried out in all 27 EU countries, 41% of respondents said the union should have fewer powers and that more decisions should be taken at a national or local level. | |
| This two-euro coin has been minted to mark the 50th anniversaryWhile the "Berlin Declaration" will cite the euro as one of the great achievements of the EU, a majority of citizens in the eurozone want to go back to their old national currencies. | This two-euro coin has been minted to mark the 50th anniversaryWhile the "Berlin Declaration" will cite the euro as one of the great achievements of the EU, a majority of citizens in the eurozone want to go back to their old national currencies. |
| There was majority support for keeping the euro in only six of the 13 euro member countries, according to the poll results. | There was majority support for keeping the euro in only six of the 13 euro member countries, according to the poll results. |
| Respondents' top priorities were to establish clear fixed limits on the powers of the EU, and to reduce the EU's trade barriers against developing countries. | Respondents' top priorities were to establish clear fixed limits on the powers of the EU, and to reduce the EU's trade barriers against developing countries. |
| According to another poll, conducted in several European countries and the United States, most people believe the EU will still be around in 50 years from now, but expanded to Turkey and even Russia. | According to another poll, conducted in several European countries and the United States, most people believe the EU will still be around in 50 years from now, but expanded to Turkey and even Russia. |
| However, less than one third of those polled think trans-Atlantic relations will be much better in 2057. | However, less than one third of those polled think trans-Atlantic relations will be much better in 2057. |