EU's Prodi slams new constitution draft

European Commission President Romano Prodi has slammed a new draft constitution for the European Union as disappointing, unambitious and "in some respects a step backward". Prodi told reporters in Athens during an EU-Canada summit the text published by the steering presidium of a Convention on the Future of Europe was a let-down and urged the 105-member forum to amend it when they debate it on Thursday and Friday. The Convention, headed by former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, is racing to complete the draft constitution in time for a summit of EU leaders in Greece on June 20-21. Giscard, who favours an EU in which member states retain a decisive say, recently challenged Prodi to a public debate over the vexed issue of whether the European Council, grouping national leaders, needs a long-term president.