The European Union needs to debate a new constitution, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said March 9 at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen. Nine EU countries are expected to discuss the idea in Berlin on March 20, Reuters reported, citing an anonymous EU diplomat.

“We have to open a new chapter in European politics,” Westerwelle told reporters. “We need more efficient decision structures.”

“I think we have to reopen the debate about a European constitution again,” he said. “We have a good treaty, but we need a constitution … as there are new centers of power in the world.”

Many EU nations disagree. Britain vetoed an earlier plan by Germany to enforce EU oversight of nations’ budgets in an amendment to the treaty. Reuters reports that Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Denmark are expected to attend a seminar on the subject in Berlin. But others have criticized the idea. “I don’t think the priority in the European Union at the moment is to start a new constitutional debate,” said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

The Trumpet has long forecast that Germany would lead the push toward greater integration, but that not all EU nations would be willing to follow. Ultimately, 10 nations or groups of nations will rapidly push toward greater integration and common government. Countries like Britain and Sweden will be left behind.