Brussels, 18/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - In its programme for the European elections adopted this week in Berlin (see above), the CDU under Angela Merkel also states that “in the event of victory by the European People's Party and its partners, José Manuel Barroso must be able to pursue his constructive work at the head of the Commission”. Ms Merkel thus joins several of her colleagues from the European Council (Gordon Brown, Silvio Berlusconi, Nicolas Sarkozy, José Socrates, Matti Vanhanen, and José Luis Zapatero) who have already publically expressed support for renewing Mr Barroso's tenure at the head of the Commission. The CDU also calls for rapid entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty but specifies that it is still attached to the long term goal of a “European Constitution”. The preamble to this future Constitution must contain a reference to God, it states. The appeal made by the CSU (Bavarian ally of the CDU) in favour of bringing in a compulsory referendum on all major European issues (accessions, modification of treaties, etc) has not been taken up in the CDU electoral programme. Hans-Gert Pöttering, currently EP president, has been designated to head the list for the European ballot in June. (H.B./transl.jl)