Schröder voor Europa van meerdere snelheden (en)

German chancellor Gerhard Schröder has spoken out for a Europe of various speeds after the European Union enlarges on 1 May.

The chancellor told the German press agency, dpa, that "in the areas where a continuation in integration is necessary, we should very pragmatically look for ways that would enable a group of member states to progress".

He added that it must be considered "how European unification can be brought forward in a much bigger European Union".

Mr Schröder's words contrast to those of his foreign minister Joschka Fischer who last month abandoned the idea of a 'core Europe'.

At the time Mr Fischer said, "varying speeds of integration will appear from one state to the next".

"We don't want that and that's why it can only be a transitional situation".

The Chancellor's statement also comes after talk of a multi-speed Europe has died down.

After the collapse of the Constitution talks in December, the press was awash with statements, predominantly from France, about a so-called core Europe.

But since the Constitution talks appear to have got back on track, these have appeared far less frequently.

Some groups of member states in the EU are already moving at different speeds. Not all states have joined the euro, the Schengen agreement (creating a borderless Europe) or security and defence.