French President Jacques Chirac called Thursday at the opening of an EU summit for another extraordinary meeting of European leaders to discuss the future of the 25-nation bloc. Chirac said the union needed to reflect on how to reconnect with European citizens. The disconnect was laid bare by French and Dutch rejections of a proposed EU constitution in referendums two weeks ago, AP reported. «France is ready to support the idea of an exceptional meeting of heads of state and government to discuss the fundamental subjects that involve the future of the union,» Chirac told fellow European leaders at the summit here. Aides distributed a transcript of his remarks. Chirac noted that the proposed EU charter was designed to smooth the functioning of the bloc, which took in 10 new members last year and is preparing to welcome Bulgaria and Romania in 2007. The French leader questioned whether enlargement could continue in the wake of the votes in France and the Netherlands. «In this new situation, can the union continue to expand without us having institutions capable of making this enlarged union function effectively?» the French leader asked. «I would like us to be able to discuss this important question together.»
