09/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, President of the Italian Republic, wrote to the German President Johannes Rau welcoming his speech to the EP calling for a European Constitution and a Federation of Nation States (see EUROPE of 5 April, p.3). You have had the merit of challenging the arrogance of a European identity now a crucial part of our heritage, said Mr Ciampi to Mr Rau, adding: We will realise this even better in a few months, when the Euro will become a currency in circulation as the tangible proof that the EU is now a Community of destines. In his letter, Mr Ciampi underlines the role of the State, guarantor of the diversity of Europe and at the same time of the need to define and recognise the values that unite us, and the requirement to caste light on the distribution of competences in Europe.