Prodi and Sarkozy see 'common goals' on EU reform[fr][de] 

Prodi told reporters in Paris on 28 May 2007, that the two were "united by a common will to reinforce the European institutions".

The two European leaders showed unity on the issue of institutional reform, however their ideas for a new treaty still diverge. While the Former Commission President Prodi is eager to defend the substance of the Constitutional Treaty, Sarkozy favours a slimmed-down "simplified Treaty".

But Prodi said the discussions with Sarkozy on a new EU treaty "focused on what we want to see in it, and we fully agree on the main pillars".

Both support the main institutional changes put forward by the Constitutional Treaty, such as reforming the voting rules and increasing qualified majority voting, introducing a permanent EU presidency and creating the post of a European foreign minister.

The German Presidency is seeking to break the institutional impasse by presenting a road map for a new Treaty to European leaders at a Summit on 21-22 June 2007.

Commenting on the idea of a 'Mediterranean Union', put forward by the newly elected French President, Prodi said: "I ask that this proposal we are elaborating for a grand Mediterranean policy not be thought of as a way of resolving the problem of our relations with Turkey." He added: "It is something else."

Sarkozy had caused controversy in Ankara, when he proposed the creation of a Mediterranean Union including Turkey, which is currently in negotiations for EU membership. The French leader insisted: "We must do in the Mediterranean region what we did in Europe 60 years ago."

President Sarkozy is to discuss his idea of a Mediterranean Union when he meets Prime Minister Zapatero for talks on 31 May 2007.