Barroso says current EU constitution has no chance

BERLIN, Dec 24 (Reuters) European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said today he did not believe the current European Union constitution had any chance of coming into effect but hoped its values, principles and substance could be salvaged.

In an interview with Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Barroso said he believed Germany -- which takes over the EU's six-month rotating presidency in January -- could take important steps to quickly improve the union's ability to make decisions.

''I want to give you an honest answer: the EU constitution in its current form will not come into effect,'' Barosso said when asked about Chancellor Angela Merkel's aim to save the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

''We should not fool ourselves. It's important now to maintain its values, its principles and its substance. Above all, we have to improve the decision-making mechanism, and we need to do that as quickly as possible.'' Barosso added: ''I have confidence the Germany presidency can take important steps in this direction.'' Germany takes over the EU presidency for six months with an agenda of reviving institutional reforms. The EU is set to grow to 27 members when Bulgaria and Romania join on January. 1.

German leaders said they hoped to map out a timetable and blueprint for the EU constitution by the end of its presidency.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has pointed out that two-thirds of the EU members are behind the constitution.

At their last summit in Brussels earlier in December, EU leaders remained divided on whether and how to revive the stalled EU constitution, a treaty stalemate expected to last well into 2008.

REUTERS DKA PM1657