Poolse president Kwasniewski wil Europabreed referendum over toekomst EU (en)

Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski has proposed an EU-wide referendum on the aims and goals of the 25-nation bloc as a possible solution to its current crisis.

"Perhaps in the future we should organise a pan-European referendum in which our citizens have the chance to express their plans and dreams for Europe?", Mr Kwasniewski wrote in Germany's biggest selling Bild Zeitung on Saturday (25 June).

His suggestion comes after the the double rejection of the EU constitution in France and the Netherlands over three weeks ago. This was then followed by an acrimonious and failed summit on how much money should be put aside for future spending on the EU.

Since then the talk has been of Europe being in a crisis with no clear idea of how to get itself out again.

In the comment piece, the Polish president calls for more "European thinking" and urges a continuation of enlargement - with concerns rising that the EU's expansion policy will be the first casualty of the bloc's crisis.

"We must not fear the consequences of expansion and cheap labour from new member states ... The economies of the 15 [old member states] have gained new labour markets, new and secure chances for investment, and seen more dynamic trade".

"It is clear to us that the European project needs a certain revision process, change and dynamic in order to be attractive and competitive", the Polish president wrote.

"The bitter experience of the last weeks shows that Europe needs mobilisation and not protest."

The Bild Zeitung has become something of a forum for EU politicians of late. Chancellor Gerhard Schroder wrote a piece that the EU faces a choice between being a free trade zone or becoming more politically integrated.

Before that, Tony Blair, the British prime minister, used the paper to defend his European credentials and reject the idea that all London wants out of the bloc is a trade zone.