ROME, July 27 (AFP) - The European Union must be able to act outside its borders if it is to ensure the security of its 450 million citizens, the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana told Italian diplomats here Tuesday.
Solana said Europe was "confronted with a situation in which the security of our citizens requires that we act outside our borders," and to do so, it needed to re-examine its institutional framework.
"The Constitution seeks to answer this demand," Solana said, adding that the document reflected agreement on "a higher level of ambition the EU should have as an international actor".
He was speaking in Rome to an annual conference of Italy's 140 ambassadors at the invitation of Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
Solana, 62, was named Europe's foreign minister during the June EU summit which adopted the constitution for an enlarged Europe, but he is not due to take up his new post until the constitution is ratified by all 25 member states, expected by the end of 2006.
"Member states support of this project will be the key to its success or failure," said Solana.
"The European Union cannot afford to fail. The challenges we have to confront will not wait patiently until we get our act together."
Solana also said Europe's partnership with the United States was "irreplaceable".
"The US must treat the European Union as a full partner in an effective and balanced partnership. The European Union has to show the US that it is worthy of that title."