The author of a draft European Union constitution said today his proposals would win widespread public approval if put to a referendum today.
European Convention President Valery Giscard d'Estaing told a news conference in Berlin the draft had been meticulously prepared and the needs of European citizens were at the forefront of the authors' minds.
"As it is now, if the constitution were put to a referendum, it would be widely accepted. If we were putting forward a bad draft, I would not be so confident," the former French president said after talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
The EU's first constitution is designed to shake up institutions widely criticised as inefficient and streamline decision-making before 10 new members join the bloc next May.
Schroeder said the constitution would make Europe more manageable when it expands to 25 states from 15 next year and he urged EU states to leave the proposals intact when a intergovernmental conference (IGC) gets underway next month.
"We will put all our energy into ensuring the draft, if possible -- and we really will work hard for this -- is approved as it now is in December," said Schroeder.
Sixteen months of negotiations on the draft were wrapped up in July, although a number of bones of contention were unresolved and frictions between member states remain, threatening to slow the IGC negotiating process.
The EU aims to end talks in time to sign the constitution before next June's European Parliament election. It must be ratified by all member countries to take effect. Several countries will put the constitution to a referendum.
