The EPP text also deviated from the Convention president’s line by failing to include an "escape clause" for member states wanting to leave the Union. Mr Brok said it had been omitted to avoid a eurosceptic groups in national parliaments proposing that their country leave the Union "over some trifle."

Another idea of Mr Giscard’s was also shot down: "We accepted the name ‘European Union’," announced Mr Martens - rejecting the possibility that the EU could be renamed United Europe or United States of Europe.

Irish referendum situation not to be repeated

However, the paper does take up the former French president’s ideas in one important way – on ratification. An article in the EPP paper suggest that member states would ratify according to their "respective constitutional requirements." Failure to do so, would mean them having one year to "decide whether they want to be a member of the Union on the basis of this constitution."

"We need some sort of mechanism for making things more supple," said Mr Martens referring to the fact that the recent Irish referendum on the Treaty of Nice, held up the whole of the EU. Mr Brok indicated that overall agreement was still needed for this clause saying that there were "other ways" of achieving this.

The old question of an EU president

Despite the "considerable progress" made with the paper, the controversial EU president question still remains open. While there was consensus that the Commission president should be elected by the parliament after being suggested by European Council, a question mark remains over the thorny issue of a European Union president, so strongly supported by Spanish and the UK.

The majority may have been against a "super president" but they were unable to agree who should be president of the executive chamber of the Council. A newly created foreign relations Commissioner holding this position - an idea which is pushed by Mr Brok - did not find consensus among the group. The paper leaves the question open.

"We do not want to have a two-pronged European presidency," said Mr Martens but admitted that he still has to talk, on behalf of the EPP, to the heads of state on the issue. This will take place just before the Copenhagen Summit in December.