BRUSSELS: European Commission President Mr Romano Prodi will next week set out radical proposals to give the Brussels body a greater role in a range of sensitive issues, ranging from defence to home affairs.
The proposals, which set out the battle-lines for the debate on Europe's future, are highly controversial and likely to be opposed by countries such as Britain and France.
Mr Prodi will also court controversy with proposals to move towards a two-speed Europe, by giving countries in the eurozone more powers to make decisions on their own, possibly including legislation.
The plan will be submitted next week to Mr Valery Giscard D'Estaing's convention on the future of Europe, which is mapping out how the newly enlarged EU should be run in future.
Mr Prodi believes that an EU of 25 member states will become bogged down in a quagmire of competing national interests, unless it has strong central guidance from the Commission, designed to champion the greater European good.
His proposal would break down the EU's current structure, in which the Commission is denied a full role in aspects of defence and justice and home affairs. Instead it would push forward the rapidly developing EU policies on defence, foreign affairs, and home affairs, although final decisions would still reside with the council of ministers.
Mr Prodi's plan would also see Mr Javier Solana's role as the EU's high representative for foreign affairs brought within the Commission. He is currently answerable to member governments.
Giving a greater role in such sensitive areas to the Commission would certainly be resisted by some member states, including Britain and France, although Germany and some smaller states have traditionally favoured a more federal model for running the EU. Almost no EU country favours giving the Commission a role in defence. The Commission says the alternative to the proposal would be gridlock.
But Mr Prodi's ideas run counter to the alternative vision, pursued by France, Britain and others, of a Europe of nation states, dominated by a beefed-up EU council, where elected politicians from the member states drive forward the political agenda.
Under British and French proposals, the council would be headed by a powerful new president, chosen by the national leaders, who would become the EU's public face and driving force.
Mr Prodi knows he faces a stern fight to see the Commission plan implemented, not least because Mr Giscard D'Estaing is known to favour a strengthened EU council with a powerful president. EU member states will also have the final say.
The Commission also calls for a return to member states of a number of its functions, including aspects of regional policy and policing some competition.