Fresh call for Europe constitution

Schroeder and Chirac: Push to European integration

NANTES, France -- France and Germany have underlined their call for Europe to have its own constitution, a move some observers fear will erode national state sovereignty.

The two countries said such a constitution was "an essential step in the historical process of European integration."

The call came in a statement from a one-day meeting led by French President Jacques Chirac and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the Loire Valley city of Nantes.

The two countries also sought to dispel fears of delays to the eastwards expansion of the European Union.

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They said they were determined the project would go ahead on time.

The joint declaration stressed the resolve of France and Germany to give "new momentum" to European integration.

Up to 10 of a dozen mainly east European candidates are scheduled to join the EU in 2004, but the uncertainty caused by the September 11 attacks in the U.S. has raised fears of delays.

The Nantes talks come ahead of a crucial December 14-15 summit in Laeken, Belgium, at which EU leaders will launch a wider debate on the future of the bloc.

France and Germany also said the signing of orders for the long-proposed European Airbus A400M military transport aircraft should be possible by the end of the year.

Berlin, raising price considerations, had said this might not be possible, but a statement issued after a meeting of French and German defence officials said one more set of negotiations should seal the deal, which involves other national governments.

"It is agreed that one last set of negotiations will clarify the last conditions with industry so the contract can be signed by the end of the year," it said, noting that both countries acknowledged the aircraft's importance for a planned European defence force.

The joint purchase also involves Italy, Spain, Britain, Turkey, Belgium, Portugal and Luxembourg.

Turning to Afghanistan, the two countries said aid was a major priority.

"It should be on a huge scale and unconditional. France and Germany are participating," they said.

The statement added they placed much hope in the forthcoming U.N.-led conference in Bonn, Germany to find an acceptable political solution for Afghanistan.