Germany is very serious about this mission. It started in 2006 to plan, prepare and present diplomatic initiatives. It not only emphasizes discussion and communication with big EU members such as France, but also pays attentions to the opinions of smaller members so as to design a blueprint that will be accepted by all. Moreover, Germany is offering its own ideas about resolving contentious issues.

Germany's efforts focus on two main areas: trying to revive the EU Constitution with the precondition of maintaining its content and spirit, so as to provide legislative support and political guidelines for the EU's enlargement, integration and further development; and persuading EU members to back unified strategies to deal with mutual challenges both within and outside of the union.

However, the future of Germany's mission during its EU presidency does not appear optimistic.

The first reason is that EU members have quite different opinions on the EU Constitution. Some want to promote approval of the constitution, while some are suspicious of it. As the date to make a final decision draws closer, EU members' conflicts become sharper. The Czech Republic, Poland and Britain still refuse to accept the existing draft of the constitution and are apathetic about its revival.

The Czech Republic said that EU members should survey the current situation with a critical attitude, renegotiate the constitution's core points and weaken the EU's powers. The British stance is that the constitution should not be considered by Britain until it is amended in accordance with British opinions.

Diverse views

Meanwhile, 18 EU members, including 16 countries that had approved the constitution, as well as Ireland and Portugal, which actively support the constitution, have organized gatherings and called for resuming the approval process. They said that even if the constitution needs to be amended, its basic provisions should not be touched. In addition, they said that countries that oppose the constitution should present alternative options with a constructive attitude.

It is difficult for the two sides to reach agreement. In France and the Netherlands, which vetoed the constitution, people still oppose it. Nobody can assure that an amended version will be approved in the two countries in the future.

The second reason is that the EU itself faces challenges in domestic and foreign affairs, which are not only testing the unity and capability of the union but also adding difficulties to Germany's presidency. In foreign affairs, EU-Russia relations are not smooth. Old EU members, such as Germany and France, and some new members, mainly Central and Eastern European countries, have different interests, considerations and strategies in their relations with Russia. Thus, the EU and Russia cannot sign a new cooperation agreement as planned.