Prodi foresees two speed Europe

Talks on the new EU charter broke down at a summit last month with members unable to agree on future voting powers after the 15-member bloc expands to take in 10 new members. It is still unclear when negotiations might resume. "It is clear that if the situation does not unblock in 2004 then some countries could, and perhaps should take the initiative to go forwards," Prodi said in an interview with La Repubblica daily printed on Friday. "They might be the EU founder members. Or even, and this is more likely and more desirable, a mixed group of old and new states that share the same view of Europe," he said. "The union train cannot always move at the speed of the slowest wagon. In fact, I have the impression that some of the wagons don't want to move or even want to go backwards."