EU treaty failure would be historic error: Merkel

Berlin, Mar 25: German Chancellor Angela Merkel today asked fellow European leaders for their support as she presses ahead with a revival of the bloc's constitution, saying failure to move the bloc forward would be a ''historic error''.

In a speech at a weekend summit to mark the 50th anniversary of the EU's founding Treaty of Rome, Merkel said the 27-nation club needed new dynamism two years after French and Dutch voters rejected a charter to overhaul the bloc's creaking institutions.

''It is important and necessary that today, here in Berlin, 50 years after the signing of the Treaty of Rome, we are united behind the goal of putting the European Union on a new common foundation by European parliamentary elections in 2009,'' Merkel said according to the text of a speech.

''I will work to ensure that by the end of the German presidency a road map can be agreed and I am relying on your support for this,'' she said.

''I am convinced that it is not only in Europe's interests, but also in the interests of the member states and citizens that we succeed. Failure would be a historic error.'' Merkel, speaking in the German Historical Museum to fellow EU leaders, said the EU needed more clearly defined responsibilities in energy, foreign and security policy.

Later, she will unveil the ''Berlin Declaration'', a broad, aspirational statement on the bloc's values and achievements she hopes will generate new momentum for European unity.

As holder of the European Union's rotating six-month presidency, Merkel has vowed to revive a treaty that would give the bloc a long-term president and foreign minister, a simpler decision-making system and more say for the European and national parliaments.

Reuters