05/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a new article on the European Constitutional deadlock following the “no” votes in the French and Dutch referendums, former Italian Permanent Representative to the EU Pietro Calamia says that fifteen Member States have ratified the Constitutional Treaty, that Finland was about to do so and that Romania and Bulgaria did so through the accession protocol, meaning that a two thirds majority of Member States - 18 out of 27 - will soon have completed the ratification process. Ambassador Calamia reaffirms that the hypothesis consisting of re-opening negotiation is unrealistic - and even dangerous - and that it would be “must more reasonable to depart from the existing text and see how to take a step towards the French and Dutch governments, which have problems with their electorates”. Pointing out that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had suggested drafting a social Protocol to be annexed to the Treaty, Mr Calamia felt that it would be possible to imagine “under the form of Declarations and Protocols, decisions being taken on globalisation, illegal immigration and other sensitive issues, in order to take account of citizens' concerns”. He says that this would be a solution “to be agreed with those governments that were interested after the French Presidential elections” before the 20098 European elections, but “we have to start thinking about it now”. (Information: Lettera diplomatica N.958, Circolo di Studi Diplomatici Palazzetto Venezia, via degli Astalli 3/A, 00186 Rome. Tel: 06 679 1052). (mg)