Berlusconi returns to Strasbourg fray

Berlusconi's speech is the first in the parliament since July

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is briefing members of the European Parliament on the results of last week's summit.

It is the first visit to the parliament for Mr Berlusconi, whose country currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency, since the day Italy assumed the EU presidency last July.

On that occasion he created a row by suggesting that German MEP Martin Schulz would be suitable for a film role as a Nazi concentration camp guard.

Mr Berlusconi has since expressed regret for his comments, which led to a bitter row between Germany and Italy.

Timetable

European leaders met in Brussels last week to discuss their differences on the EU's planned new constitution and there will be another round of negotiations next month in the Italian city of Naples.

Italy says it is hoping to preserve as much as possible a draft text drawn up by the Convention on the Future of Europe earlier this year.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the "principle of democracy" demanded that the timetable for acceptance of the draft be adhered to.

EU leaders agreed at the end of June that the constitution should be signed off in time for the union's citizens to get to know it before elections in June 2004.