Merkel resurrects ‘holy’ EU constitution row

Angela Merkel’s call for “Christian values” to be put at the heart of an EU constitution has sparked protests from MEPs.

The German leader has resurrected old rows over a name check for God in the EU’s moribund constitution.

After a private meeting with the Pope, the Christian Democrat German chancellor indicated that religion was back on the agenda.

“We spoke about the role of Europe and I emphasised the need for a constitution and that it should refer to our Christian values,” she said.

“I believe this treaty should be linked to Christianity and God because Christianity was decisive in the formation of Europe.”

Merkel will use her term in the EU’s rotating presidency next year to re-launch the constitution.

Berlin will host a political declaration by EU leader on March 25 2007 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

But Merkel’s move risks unravelling a delicate compromise text agreed by EU leaders in June 2004 and has angered secular EU enthusiasts.

Socialist leader in the European parliament will on Tuesday Martin Schulz “deliver a personal protest” to Merkel.

The German MEP is meeting the chancellor for preparatory talks on the German EU presidency in the first half of next year.

“The chancellor's statement brings into question once more a compromise that was difficult enough to achieve.  It is not helpful to reopen a discussion that has been closed,” he said.

“It is important to defend the substance of the constitution in its present form.”

“A new discussion about incorporating Christian values would be an unnecessary burden on the talks that will soon begin on the best way of proceeding with the constitution.”

The row is set to resonate in the parliament as Schulz's conservative rival Hans-Gert Poettering prepares to take over the assembly’s presidency.

Poettering, a German Christian Democrat like Merkel, has pledged to continue the fight for a religious reference in the constitution.

Eight national governments pushed hard for a direct mention for a Christian God during the original EU constitution talks in 2004.

But Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia had and Ireland remained in the minority after opposition was led by the UK, France and Sweden.

Germany's change of government and new support for a Christian constitution will reopen an unwelcome debate for many of Europe's capitals.

The final preamble to the EU constitution, rejected by French and Dutch voters last year, draws “inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe”.

The vague reference to a religious heritage is not enough for many on Europe’s powerful Christian Democrat right or countries with a strong Catholic tradition.

Critics of a more specific EU endorsement of Christian values point to over 200-years of the European ‘enlightenment’, changing demographics and plans for Islamic Turkey to join Europe’s club.

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