Brussels, 06/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - According to the German weekly Der Spiegel, confidential negotiations are taking place between German and French Christian Democrats and Conservatives from the European Parliament in view of saving the European Constitution through an initiative to be launched under the German Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2007. The idea is to take only parts one (Union objectives, citizenship, competencies, institution, democratic life of the Union) and two (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Union) of the text and annex a short political declaration to them, then to submit them for popular approval again, by referendum (where the constitution was rejected by referendum on 29 Mai 2005 in France) and in Germany (where the Constitution was ratified on 12 May 2005 by the Bundestag and on 27 May 2005 by the Bundesrat). As for part three (policies and functioning of the Union, which provoked the most controversy, especially in France), it will only be ratified by the Parliaments in the two countries. Chancellor Angela Merkel and president Jacques Chirac will be directly involved in the work, affirms the Spiegel. The EPP-ED spokesperson at the European Parliament refused to make any comment on this development.