UK at odds with Prodi's Europe vision

By Mark Davies BBC News Online political reporter

A vision of Europe's future at odds with that sought by Tony Blair has been set out by the president of the European Commission.

Romano Prodi said EU leaders should be seeking to build "the first true supranational democracy in the world".

We must build the first true supranational democracy in the world

Romano Prodi

He rejected proposals from national governments, including the UK, for the appointment of a EU president.

The ability of national governments to block EU decisions on areas including taxation would end under Mr Prodi's plans.

Most of the proposals - made as recommendations to the convention drawing up a blueprint for the EU's future - are certain to be opposed by the UK Government.

Foreign Office sources said Mr Prodi's blueprint amounted to a kite-flying exercise, with many of his ideas likely to fall flat with EU member states.

They suggested Mr Prodi had made a tactical error by bidding too highly in his hopes for future when a "middle ground" approach would have won more support on the convention.

But the sources stressed there were some good ideas in the package, such as strengthening the power of the commission to hold member states breaking EU laws to account.

Last week, Mr Blair set out his vision of a "new Europe" with an appointed president and a stronger role in the world.

The prime minister sees national governments as the driving force in the EU, leading a strengthened commission.

'Darkest moments'

The prime minister accepts that national vetoes - the ability of a single state to block EU proposals - will need to be revised once 10 new countries join the EU.

Prodi's plans will face opposition from member states

But he is insisting that majority voting must not extend to areas like taxation, defence and foreign policy.

Mr Prodi, however, wants an end to member states being able to block proposals in almost all areas of EU policy except defence.

He said the pursuit of unanimity was behind "the darkest moments" of the EU's recent history.

Under his plans, the European Parliament would have greater legislative and budgetary powers.

Some smaller countries may back the proposals, but most will be opposed by the UK, France and Spain, who want national governments to be the powerhouse of the EU.

One voice

Calls for an end to the national veto on foreign policy decisions will be firmly opposed by the UK and France, two main EU players on foreign policy.

Blair set out his view last week

Mr Prodi also called for his successors as European Commission president to be elected by the European Parliament.

"We must build the first true supranational democracy in the world," Mr Prodi told the European Parliament on Thursday.

"National leaders should act on their commitment to make Europe a superpower.

"Speaking with one voice is essential to defend Europe's social model in a globalised world and protect our values," Mr Prodi said.

He called for a single EU foreign minister - a "secretary of the Union" - sitting in the commission and reporting to both EU member states and the commission president.

Problems

The role is currently split between foreign policy high representative, Javier Solana, who is responsible only to member states, and External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten.

Mr Prodi said the calls from the UK, France and Spain for a president of the European Council - which is made up of EU leaders - would create more problems than it would resolve.

In his speech last week, Mr Blair proposed a fixed president of the council alongside a "team presidency" aimed at giving smaller countries a voice.

But Mr Prodi asked: "What would (the president) do in the 360 days of the year when the European Council is not meeting and George W Bush is not calling?"

He said that instead the current system - where the EU presidency is rotated between member states every six months - should be retained with minor changes.

Mr Blair had said last week that the rotating presidency system was inefficient and weak - "a fatal handicap in the development of an effective Common Foreign and Security Policy".

Superstate

Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Mr Prodi's proposals flew in the face of the need to bring EU instutions closer to the people of Europe.

The plans, he said, were "part of what in Europe is called the project - to all intents and purposes a European superpower or even a Europe superstate".

"This is going in exactly the opposite direction to what is needed which is to make Europe more relevant to the people of Europe."

Former European Commissioner vice president Lord Brittan told Today that Mr Prodi's proposals were his attempt to reassert the commission's voice.

But he said there was little chance of the proposals being accepted by member states and that the commission should be strengthened within its existing role.