President of the European Commission Romano Prodi urged leaders of the European Union (EU) to grasp the chance of the upcoming European Council to reach consensus on constitution making.

In a letter addressed to Bertie Ahern, prime minister of Ireland holding the rotating EU presidency, Prodi said that the summit meeting, the first of the enlarged EU of 25 member states, is to take decisions that will mark the history of the EU and its people.

To respond to the disenchantment of European citizens and the illusions of the eurosceptics as manifested in the recent electionof the European Parliament, the EU must formulate a clear political project that is implemented by effective institutions, he said.

"This is an opportunity we must grasp at this European Council by reaching agreement on a constitution for Europe," Prodi stressed.

"Politically and symbolically, an agreement on a European Constitution will be a major event in the EU's history, the culmination of the debate we set going at Nice on the future of the Union," he added.

He noted that EU leaders have a duty to show that the constitution is there so the EU can really achieve its goals and act for the benefit of the people.

EU leaders will come to meet here Thursday, with constitution making atop their agenda.

Source: Xinhua