The 18 EU countries that have ratified the EU constitution, together with Portugal and Ireland, have asked for a solution which will improve and complete the constitutional treaty approved in 2004 and will not undermine it.

Ministers and secretaries of state for European affairs from the 20 countries on Friday made the call during a one-day meeting here.

In their final statement, the participants called for "reaching an agreement acceptable to everyone" and said they are "willing to listen with a constructive spirit to other member states proposals" and to "work together on the basis of the Constitutional Treaty" in order to reach an agreement that will "respect its substance and balance."

The ministers called for a "political Europe" which will respond to the "challenges"of today's globalized world, especially to problems such as immigration or energy and promised to help the German presidency to find a solution to the constitutional crisis and to listen to those who have not ratified the treaty yet.

"We want a better Europe...more efficient, more transparent and more democratic at her citizens' service," the statement said.

For the "Friends of the Constitution" theme highlighted at the meeting, the goal of the statement is to "enable Europe to face more efficiently the challenges of the 21 century and to respond to her citizens expectations."

"We need strong and democratic institutions such as those foreseen in the treaty which will allow us to apply common and efficient policies", the statement added.

The meeting was designed to back Germany, which is holding the EU presidendy, over its plans to simplify the bloc's institutional structure and streamline decision-making.

Source: Xinhua