Sarkozy says Merkel backs idea of simpler EU constitution

(BERLIN) - French conservative presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday said German Chancellor Angela Merkel was "interested" in his proposal to simplify the EU's shelved constitution.

"I believe that I can say that there is considerable interest in Germany in the idea of a simplified constitution," he told reporters after a meeting with Merkel in Berlin.

"But of course we perfectly understand that, given her position and her responsibilities in Europe and in Germany, Mrs Merkel is not in a position to make her thoughts public."

Merkel made no comment.

Germany holds the rotating presidency of the European Union and has made trying to revive the constitution one of the priorities of its six-month mandate.

The treaty was put on ice after it was rejected by Dutch and French voters in referenda in 2005.

Sarkozy, who is also France's interior minister, has long argued that Europe should adopt a "mini treaty" as way out of its constitutional deadlock.

In December, he proposed that only the first two chapters of the blueprint should be retained as they had posed little problem to the voting public or to politicians.

Sarkozy is the front-runner ahead of the first round of France's presidential elections in April.

His opponent, Socialist Segolene Royal, is due to meet Merkel in March.