Italy honours EU ex-constitution

The goddess Europa holds the constitution in her hand

The European Union constitution may be on ice but Italy is celebrating its first anniversary anyway, by issuing a new two-euro commemorative coin.

The constitution was signed by EU leaders in Rome on 28 October 2004, but was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands several months later.

The new coin, issued this week, depicts the goddess Europa holding a pen over the text of the constitution.

Some are already on sale on the web for three times their face value.

The Italian mint itself is selling a presentation pack for seven euros.

'Odd' decision

The constitution can only become law if it is ratified by all 25 EU countries but France and the Netherlands are not likely to hold new referendums any time soon, and most experts say they will never vote again on the same text.

In Italy we are used to the many ways of wasting public money Marco Niadi of Il Sole 24 Ore

Marco Niadi, London correspondent of the Italian financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, said he was surprised by the news, especially since a decision to mint 18 million coins would not have been taken without wide consultation.

"We all know the constitution is not going anywhere at this moment, so to make a commemorative coin is a bit odd," he said.

He pointed out that the euro itself had caused Italian public opinion to cool towards Europe, because prices rose after it was introduced.

However, he said Italians would accept the new coin without fuss, as they would a rainstorm.

"In the UK, people would ask about the cost to the tax payer and question whether it was a sensible thing to do. In Italy we are used to the many ways of wasting public money," he said.

Zeus

The new coin shows Europa with the god Zeus in the form of a bull.

It also bears the 12 stars of the European flag and the words Costitutuzione Europea.

Among Italy's leading politicians are some extremely keen Europhiles.

Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, a former head of the national bank, was one of the architects of Italy's adoption of the euro.

The head of the Italian opposition, Romano Prodi, was the last president of the European Commission.