Erkan's field diary

"We, the citizens of the European Union have united for the better"

- A "very European" statement - nothing to do with the US constitution

"We are united in our aim of placing the European Union on a renewed common basis before the European parliament elections in 2009"

- We have to save something from the wreckage of the EU constitution by then

"The EU will continue to thrive both on openness and on the will of its member states to consolidate the union's internal development"

- We can let in new members, but only if the British, the Poles, the Czechs and the others sign up to a new treaty

"This European model combines economic success and social responsibility"

- We can have it all: economic liberalism, job security, social benefits and long holidays

"The common market and the euro make us strong"

- Sorry, Britain, Denmark and Sweden - you can keep your own currency, but you can't deny the euro is a success

"We can shape the increasing interdependence of the global economy and ever-growing competition on international markets according to our values"

- We're a powerful economic bloc of 480m people. If you want to trade with us, you have to play by our rules

"We intend jointly to lead the way in energy policy and climate protection"

- Be warned: Europe will be lecturing the rest of the world on this, starting at the June G8 summit

"Thanks to the yearning for freedom of the peoples of central and eastern Europe, the unnatural division of Europe is now consigned to the past"

- The Russians won't like this, but Ms Merkel isn't quite as sensitive to this as her predecessor, Gerhard Schröder

"The European Union will continue to promote democracy, stability and prosperity beyond its borders"

- But don't count on ever being allowed to join if you're Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus or Moldova

Full text at www.ft.com/berlin