EU: The Italian Prime Minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, has conceded that his wish for the EU constitution to mention Christianity was likely to go unfulfilled.
His remarks came as the French and German leaders said they had "no differences whatsoever" over the EU draft constitution to be discussed at the Inter-Governmental Conference (IGC) in Rome in a month's time.
"We want [a reference to Christianity] . . . but, frankly, I don't think it will be possible," said Mr Berlusconi in an interview in today's Spectator magazine. His remarks are a rebuff to his deputy, Mr Gianfranco Fini, who has said this week that he would press for a mention of Christianity in the final constitution.
"The Italian government has been quite clear right from the outset of the convention, and we have not changed out opinion. We feel that it is necessary to include this reference," Mr Fini told a news conference after addressing the European Parliament on Wednesday.
Pope John Paul II has called for the constitution to make explicit reference to God, a position backed by predominantly Roman Catholic countries Italy, Spain and Portugal.
However more secular countries have succeeded in having the constitution make a general reference to Europe's "cultural, religious and humanist inheritance".
"I think the only way forward is to approve that which has emerged from the Giscard Convention exactly as it is, perhaps with one or two changes," said Mr Berlusconi.
The German and French leaders said yesterday they each had changes they would like made to the constitution but were happy with the compromise.
Mr Jacques Chirac warned against "undoing" the draft constitution for fear of never achieving consensus in Rome next month, echoing the remarks last week of Mr Joschka Fischer, the German Foreign Minister.
Mr Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who chaired the Convention on the Future of Europe which proposed the draft constitution, has warned that Europe's citizens would reject a proposed EU constitution if governments make too many changes.
Mr Gerhard Schröder travels to Prague today for talks just days after the Czech government organised a round-table discussion for 15 smaller EU countries and candidate countries concerned about EU reforms.
The 15 representatives called for all member-states to be treated equally in a reformed European Commission, and for the retention of the "one country one commissioner" principle.
Mr Fischer said last week that "those who want to see a stronger Commission must also be in favour of a smaller one".
While in Prague, Mr Schröder is expected to discuss controversial plans for a memorial to the 11 million Germans expelled from Poland, Ukraine, Russia and the former Czechoslovakia after the second World War.
Mr Schröder's original trip 18 months ago was cancelled after the former Czech prime minister, Mr Milos Zeman, described expelled Germans as "Hitler's fifth column".