EU's biggest party unveils 50th anniversary text

(BRUSSELS) - Europe's biggest political party unveiled Monday a 50th anniversary declaration highlighting the EU's Judaeo-Christian roots but avoiding any mention of the embattled constitution.

The text by the European People's Party (EPP), which includes German Chancellor Angela Merkel, was released days before EU leaders make public a "Berlin Declaration" to praise Europe's achievements and commit to its future.

Merkel, whose country holds the EU presidency, European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering, helped finalise the document, EPP leader Wilfried Martins said.

The two-and-a-half page declaration, which addresses future challenges like enlargement and reform, said that the EU is a community of values based on democracy, freedom and inalienable human rights.

"Our universal spirit, Europe's Judaeo-Christian roots and common cultural heritage, as well as the classic and humanist history of Europe and the achievements of the period of enlightenment, are the foundation of our political family," it said.

Any mention of religion in the EU declaration has proved controversial, just as it did during debate about the constitutional treaty.

It has been an obstacle to the leaders ahead of Sunday's meeting in Berlin to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which laid the foundations for today's EU.

The constitution has been in limbo since it was rejected in referenda in France and the Netherlands two years ago and is unlikely to figure in the EU declaration.

Nor did it figure in part of the EPP text written with Merkel's help.

"In view of the recent enlargement of the European Union, we now have to enhance its capacity to act, strengthen solidarity between the member states and to reduce bureaucracy," it said.

"The European Union needs more democracy, transparency and efficiency. For the 2009 European elections, we want to show to the citizens that we have been able to share these goals."

Martens said his political group, which unites Europe's Christian Democrat and conservative parties, did not want to undermine Merkel's efforts to come up with a road map for the constitution by June.

"We don't want to compromise this attempt to prepare a road map and nor, therefore, the propositions that she will make," he told reporters.

Despite Merkel's involvement, it remains unclear what effect the EPP version will have on the "Berlin Declaration", which has been drawn up by Germany behind closed doors, with input from EU governments.