German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday outlined Germany's priorities during its six-month EU presidency with the revival of the EU constitution topping the agenda.

Presenting Germany's work program at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, she called for renewed and concerted efforts from EU member states and various institutions to breathe new life into the moribund EU constitution.

Merkel said the draft constitution, which was vetoed by French and Dutch voters in 2005, will help the 27-nation EU to develop new rules to "be able to survive in tomorrow's world."

"A lumbering, bureaucratic, divided Europe is not going to meet the challenges it faces, in foreign and security policies, in climate change and energy, in research policy, in cutting red tape and in enlargement and neighborhood policy," she said.

"We need a clear delimitation of responsibilities of the EU and its member states and we need a clear catalogue of procedures," she said.

The new challenges require the EU to act in concert and to have the readiness to adapt and renew, Merkel said.

Germany intends to carry out consultations among EU institutions and member states on the future of the constitution, she said, adding that "by June we have to reach some decisions."

"I want to commit myself to a timetable being ready for the constitutional process by the end of our presidency," she said to loud applause from EU legislators.

Germany is expected to submit a report to the EU summit in June, which will set out the future path for the EU constitution and EU institutional reforms.

Merkel said it's in the interest of the bloc and its citizens that the issue of the constitution is solved by the spring 2009 EU elections, stressing that "a failure would be tragic."

After the vetoes by French and Dutch voters, the EU constitutional treaty was put on hold for a year-long "period of reflection". Analysts have warned that it would not be easy for Germany to seek a compromise on the constitution among EU states.

In its 24-page work program entitled "Europe -- succeeding together", Germany set out a wide range of goals, from better regulation of the bloc, fighting global warming, to securing Europe's energy supplies and reviving the Doha trade talks.

Merkel named two primary areas Germany wants to focus on in the next six months -- the EU's foreign and security policies and its economic growth and employment.

She stressed the importance of maintaining stability in the western Balkans, which she said requires the entry of western Balkan countries into the EU.

The EU should cooperate with the United States, the United Nations and Russia to continue to push for the Middle East peace process, and carry out the tasks of the so-called Mid-East quartet, she said.

Merkel noted the need to deepen trans-Atlantic relations, saying the EU and the United States are each others' principal investment and trade partners, and the two should do away with trade barriers in fields like the patent law, standards and access to stock market listing.

Europe also needs Washington's cooperation in the global fight against climate change, she said. The EU will push for a new international agreement on greenhouse gas emissions after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, she said.

The German chancellor also highlighted EU's partnership with Russia, saying it was of "strategic importance to Europe."

Germany will do its best to start the negotiations on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Russia during its presidency, she said, adding that energy cooperation will be a key issue in that deal.

On the second priority of boosting the EU's economy and competitiveness, Merkel said Germany will work hard to ensure that the EU's Lisbon strategy of creating growth and employment is taken forward.

The European social model should be adjusted in the context of globalization, she said, adding that better regulation and less red tape would be essential to a prosperous EU.

Merkel said Germany would launch a trio EU presidency approach together with the next two EU presidencies, Portugal and Slovenia, to ensure a policy continuity of the bloc.

The three countries discussed and set the goals together and would work together to achieve them in the next 18 months, she said.

In her speech, Merkel repeatedly stressed the need for Europe to be tolerant so as to preserve its diversity and protect freedom, which according to her is "the soul of Europe."

"Europe can not tolerate intolerance, violence from the far-right and the far-left, violence inspired by religion," she said.

Merkel called for solidarity among EU member states, big and small, saying "Europe can only succeed working together."

Source: Xinhua