Karamanlis in Germany

Greek Prime-minister, Kostas Karamanlis will expected to arrive in Berlin tomorrow to participate at the European Popular Party meeting. Within the context of a special edition to mark the 50th anniversary of the Rome Treaty, the German newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in its today’s issue carries Mr. Karamanlis message in which he favours the formation of a leading group within the EU, in the role of a steam engine in order to advance European integration. Grand events are to be held on Sunday in the German capital, Berlin where the "Berlin Declaration" will be adopted

In reference to the major crisis following the rejection of the European Constitution by French and Dutch voters, Mr. Karamanlis stressed that this fact could not be ignored as well as the fact that the majority of EU member states have approved the European Constitution. He also expressed conviction that the Constitution Treaty enables the EU members to respond to challenges otherwise the EU with 27 member states now runs the risk of paralyzing.
To this end we find ourselves before two alternatives, either to go ahead or stand still. The Greek Prime-minister takes it as granted that all EU member states can not go ahead all together but only those which want and can and should do it in the role of a steam-engine to open the road for the others, specifically referring as leading group the" politically strong eurozone member states".