European Union leaders signed the bloc's first constitution in a glittering ceremony on Friday but celebrations were marred by uncertainty over ratification and political turmoil over the stalled European Commission.
The leaders used private talks on the sidelines to discuss a stand-off with the European Parliament that has blocked the entry into office of a new EU executive.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder played down talk of a political crisis, saying he expected a revamped Commission would be approved within a couple of weeks.
"We can rejoice at this historic day, even if there are one or two shadows over it," Schroeder told reporters. "I wouldn't call it a crisis - not yet."
Jose Manuel Barroso's 25-member team had been due to start work next Monday, but he withdrew his contested line-up just before a crucial parliamentary investiture vote on Wednesday to avoid a humiliating defeat.
Friday's lavish pageant was staged on the Capitoline Hill in the same Renaissance hall where the EU's six founding nations signed the original Treaty of Rome in March 1957, launching the most successful enterprise in European unification.
"The seeming madness of our founding fathers has become a splendid reality, to which a fundamental chapter is being added today," Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said.
The leaders agreed the charter in June after months of haggling, hoping to usher in a period of greater stability and better governance for the newly enlarged 25-nation club with 450 million citizens.
It provides for a long-term president of the European Council of national leaders, a first foreign minister, more powers for parliament and eventually a smaller Commission.
But all member states must first ratify the treaty - a daunting challenge with at least eight, including Eurosceptical Britain, planning to hold referendums over the next two years.
Outgoing Commission President Romano Prodi, who is staying on in a caretaker capacity, warned that signature "does not mean we have crossed the finishing line" and ratification could not be taken for granted.
Friday's ceremony launched a race among the most enthusiastic EU members to be first to endorse the treaty.
The leaders of France, Germany and Italy said they would start ratification procedures immediately. Berlusconi hopes Rome will be first to complete the process by the end of this year.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Britain would probably hold its referendum early in 2006.
Unlike the punchy US Constitution, the EU version is a dense document, packed with legal jargon that may struggle to win a place in the affections of Europe.
Winning public backing across Europe may not be made any easier by the messy political reality, with incoming Commission President Barroso trying to persuade national governments to come up with a changed team acceptable to the restive parliament.
"We need more time so I can go back to some of the prime ministers so that I can get better choices," Barroso told reporters in a statue-lined courtyard.
Barroso withdrew his original team because of hostility to Italy's nominee for the justice portfolio, Rocco Buttiglione, over his conservative Roman Catholic views on gays and marriage.
A small group of right-wing Catholics protested against the signing of the constitution on Friday, denouncing the absence of any reference to Christ in the charter.
Berlusconi is under huge pressure to dump Buttiglione, who attended Friday's ceremony as Italy's European affairs minister, but he has indicated that he would not back down unless some other countries also withdrew their candidates.
Discussions seem likely to continue into a regular EU summit in Brussels next week.
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