The Berlin Declaration, signed on Sunday on the occasion of the 50th birthday of the European Union (EU), avoided mentioning the EU constitution.

"We are united in our aim of placing the European Union on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009," reads the declaration.

The absence of the term "EU constitution" is obviously a result of objection from some member states, particularly the Czech Republic.

Prague has vehemently opposed a deadline for the revival of the constitution by 2009 when it will hold the rotating EU presidency.

The constitution was vetoed in France and the Netherlands in the summer of 2005, putting the EU member states in reflection until June 2007.

Although Germany, which currently holds the EU presidency, is eager to revive the constitution, consensus is lacking among member states.

The words "renewed common basis" will allow skeptics to interpret the issue in their own way.

The Berlin Declaration was signed by only three persons -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering -- although all heads of state and government from the 27 member states were available.

German officials have explained that the declaration does not need the signature of all the leaders, but Czech President Vaclav Klaus had said he would not sign anything that he did not agree to.

The two-page declaration consists of three parts with a preamble focusing on European unification.

"We, the citizens of the European Union, have united for the better," reads the document.

"Thanks to the yearning for freedom of the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe the unnatural division of Europe is now consigned to the past. European integration shows that we have learnt the painful lessons of a history marked by bloody conflict. Today we live together as was never possible before," it says.

The first part is devoted to Europe's common values, such as freedom, democracy, respect for human dignity and gender equality.

"We are striving for peace and freedom, for democracy and the rule of law, for mutual respect and shared responsibility, for prosperity and security, for tolerance and participation, for justice and solidarity," it says.

The second part of the document talks about the challenges the union is facing, including terrorism, illegal immigration, racism and xenophobia.

"We will fight terrorism, organized crime and illegal immigration together. We stand up for liberties and civil rights also in the struggle against those who oppose them. Racism and xenophobia must never again be given any rein," the declaration reads.

It also vows to take a lead in energy policy and climate protection.

The last part looks to the future, stressing the need for a "renewed common basis" by 2009.

Source: Xinhua