May 13, 2006: "I want this constitutional treaty" was how German chancellor Angela Merkel outlined her government's official policy on the stalled EU constitution in a speech given in the Bundestag this week. Speakers from all parties in the Bundestag responded positively to Merkel's pro-EU stance. Merkel declared that "Europe must show that it can shape policy according to its values in a global world." According to the German chancellor, the success of the European Union must be visible in four key areas: economic development, internal and foreign security and the capacity of the supranational body to function.

For Merkel the EU's future capability to act is all the more reason to seek ways out of the current constitutional impasse brought on by last year's no vote in France and the Netherlands. In the nearly twelve months since French and Dutch voters rejected the proposed treaty, pro-constitution activists have had plenty of time for a mandatory review of their strategy with no tangible results. There is widespread agreement among leading thinkers within the EU that the European Union needs a constitution to become more democratic, transparent and manageable. The last point is especially important for a European Union that has not stopped adding new members. However, EU leaders will do nothing more than continue the impasse at their next summit in June, especially since elections are scheduled to be held in France and the Netherlands by May 2007.

Angela Merkel wants to use the German EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2007 as a catalyst to get things moving again, although she cautioned against expecting a quick solution. Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, the current EU Council President until July, expects the EU constitution to be on the agenda possibly by 2008. Schüssel sees little room for maneuvering until then because of unsettled domestic politics in Italy and Britain, two of the EU's largest members. Tony Blair has indicated that British voters will be allowed to vote on the proposed constitution, which would make the outcome of the ballot uncertain.

If referendums are to be held in the future in any EU member countries to determine whether the EU constitution should be ratified, then EU leaders would do well to make the Union more attractive to its citizens. "What do I get from the EU anyway?" seems to be a common question being asked all over Europe in recent months.

Meanwhile, Estonia's parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposed EU constitution this week, making it the 15th EU country to ratify the treaty.