08/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - In the Spring 2005 issue of the quarterly Italian foreign affairs review Affari Esteri¸ Pietro Calamia, erstwhile Italian Permanent Representative to the EU, expresses confidence about ratification of the European Constitution, suggesting demonstrating this confidence by anticipating or preparing for the application of a series of measures which will require 'political determination and commitment' if they are to come into force. He says it will be very important to 'bring forward, or at least to prepare the establishment of permanent structured cooperation' for the defence policy. In this way, if there were to be delays or problems in concluding the ratification procedures, the EU would be in a better position to deal with this by having already established a group of countries ready to make progress in such a fundamental area as defence. He said that in this way the EU would gain precious time and when the Constitution came into force, it would be able to formally launch this structured cooperation, which should cover commonly agreed objectives on investment in defence equipment, concrete measures for strengthening and interoperability and the development of common equipment programmes.