Leipzig, 07/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - Receiving an Honourary Doctorate from the University of Leipzig, the President of the Italian Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, proposed that we should get on as quickly as possible with drawing up a European constitution, which, in a first part, "would take on board the Charter of Fundamental Rights" and, in a second part, define "the competencies of the Union's bodies and institutional subjects which participate in European community life" (here, Ciampi also mentioned the regions and municipalities). A European identity cannot exist without everyone signing up to the same to values, including the fight against xenophobia and the respect of minorities", Mr. Ciampi stressed.
In his address, Mr. Ciampi also raised the possibility of a "core of States" being called on to provide "impetus" to European integration, and considered that this "core" could be made up of all Member States which, "setting out from the founding countries", would be prepared to take part.