European Commission President Mr Romano Prodi today described the new draft constitution for the European Union as disappointing, unambitious and "in some respects a step backward".
Mr Prodi told reporters in Athens during an EU-Canada summit the text published by the steering presidium of a Convention on the Future of Europe was a let-down and urged the 105-member forum to amend it when they debate it tomorrow and Friday.
"Despite all the hard work we have put into this, the text that is now before us simply lacks vision and ambition," the head of the Brussels-based EU executive said.