Berlin Declaration marks EU's birthday

Fifty years after the signing of the treaty that gave birth to the EU, its leaders will this weekend give themselves a two-year deadline to revamp the bloc, as they kick off anniversary celebrations in Berlin.

After weeks of haggling, the 27 governments yesterday signed off on a declaration setting out a timetable for key changes, while using language vague enough to appease critics of the European Constitution that was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands. Eurosceptic nations prevented any direct mention of moves to revive the constitution or of the changes to EU decision-making it envisages. Meanwhile critics of further EU expansion ensured that this contentious issue was ducked.

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But last-minute talks brought a breakthrough for Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, which holds the EU presidency and which won a vaguer pledge to revamp EU decision-making by 2009.

After telephone discussions with Mirek Topolánek, the prime minister of the Czech Republic, his nation's objections were withdrawn providing the text refers only to a promise to place "the European Union on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009."

The document also declared: "Today we live together as was never possible before.

"We, the citizens of the European Union, have united for the better." Europe, it concludes, is "our common future".

Earlier the Czech Republic President Václav Klaus had described the Berlin Declaration as "Orwellian eurospeak". But his prime minister has been reassured by the fact that the Declaration will not be signed by individual heads of government.

Instead Ms Merkel will initial it on behalf of the 27 EU nations because she holds the rotating presidency of the EU until July. One EU official argued: "It's a bit like renewing your marriage vows, then insisting that your mother-in-law says them for you."

Though the text has been shorn of some of its most controversial elements, Ms Merkel set alarm bells ringing among Eurosceptics with an interview in the German newspaper Bild Zeitung in which she burnished her credentials as a supporter of European integration. She said: "Within the EU itself, we will have to move closer to establishing a common European army. The EU Commission will become better able to act on the basis of clearly regulated responsibilities."

German officials said they were working on plans for a rapid reaction naval force for crisis intervention. Such ambitious ideas will not be in the Berlin Declaration which took weeks of meticulous drafting.

Despite the wishes of mainly Roman Catholic Poland, the Declaration contains no reference to God or Christianity though there will be mention of the merits of the European single currency and the Schengen passport-free travel zone - neither of which the UK has joined.

Climate change, terrorism and organised crime feature as challenges for the future and the declaration praises the social dimension of the EU, saying the "European model combines economic success and social responsibility".

With public opinion stubbornly unenthusiastic about the EU, the 50th anniversary is seen as an opportunity to remind voters about its achievements since the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957 which created the European Economic Community. In a poll released yesterday, nearly half the people in countries using the European currency said they wanted their old currency back.

Festivities are being staged around Europe, including in Berlin where city museums will remain open until the early hours and revellers will have cut-price entry into 27 nightclubs.

Though larely ceremonial the Berlin Declaration is designed as a staging post towards an EU summit in June when Ms Merkel wants to clinch agreement on how to salvage parts of the European Constitution.

Diplomats point out that the difficulty in drafting the Declaration is a foretaste of the problems certain to be faced by Ms Merkel on the Constitution.

It planned to give the bloc a long-term president and foreign minister, a slimmed-down European Commission, and a voting system based on population size.

As anniversary celebrations got under way, the Italian Prime Minister and former president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, warned in a speech to the Italian Senate that the European Union could still fail, saying the French and Dutch "No" votes had caused deep uncertainty.

He said: "Europe's citizens have been waiting with bated breath for almost two years because, after the French and Dutch rejection, they realised that the European project has not yet reached the point of no return, and that Europe could still fail."

He added: "Through these celebrations we must reassure them, and show that this is not the case, and that we are determined to complete the greatest experiment of peace, democracy and prosperity of the contemporary world."

Joining the big celebration

Joe Cocker

Renowned for his gritty voice, Joe Cocker was born in Sheffield. His brand of blues is associated more with the US than Europe, though he can point to his hit 'N'oubliez jamais' as evidence of his EU credentials.

Eccles cakes

The EU has asked each member state to nominate two pastries for the 50th anniversary bash. The UK is sending the Eccles cake and the hot-cross bun.

Gianna Nannini

One of Italy's most famous rockers, she is the sister of a racing driver. The refrain from one of her songs sums up the sceptics' vision of European unity: "Beautiful and impossible".

Outlandish

Big in Denmark, where they are based, Outlandish are an acclaimed hip-hop group that illustrates the diversity of European music. Formed in 1997, they consist of Isam Bachiri Azouaoui (born in Denmark and of Moroccan descent), Waqas Ali Qadri (born in Denmark with Pakistani roots), and Lenny Martinez (from Honduras). Two are devout Muslims, and one is a Catholic.

Unusual Suspects

Celtic to the core, this band have been called the "Scottish national folk orchestra". Their 2003 debut had more musicians than there are members of the EU: 32 artists, such as fiddlers, singers and pipers, plus a rhythm and brass section.