07/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - In the October 2005 edition of Affari Esteri, the former Italian permanent representative to the EU, Pietro Calamia, once again raises the issue of the future of Europe after the ratification process of the European Constitution was interrupted, stating that in order to go forward, we must count on the "internal dynamic" of the institutions, rather than on formal changes made to the treaties. In particular, he suggests that more effort could be made to define a "coherent foreign policy line for Europe, starting with the all-important relations with the United States", which obviously calls for “a community of intentions between the governments of the Member States". In his article entitled The European Crisis, Ambassador Calamia states that the only field in which progress can be made today is that of defence. He proposes, therefore, to prepare a "permanent structured cooperation" in this field (as provided for by the Constitution), while stating that this will not be a "vanguard leaving the Union, but a group anticipating achievements which lie in the interests of all". He feels that as France ("which is highly attentive to the problems of defence") is "in difficulties with the consequences of the referendum" on the Constitution, an initiative may be taken in this field by the UK Presidency and by countries which ratified the Constitution by a large majority, such as Italy, Spain and Germany.