Berlin, MARCH 23, SPA -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday thatshe would like Europe to have its own army, reported dpa. "We need to get closer to a common army for Europe," she told themass-circulation Bild newspaper when asked how the EU would look inthe next 50 years. "The European Commission will be more effective and have clearlydefined responsibilities," she added. Merkel rejected the idea that Europe would merge into a singlestate. "Thee will not be a European federal state, we will maintainthe diversity of the nation states," she said. Merkel was speaking ahead of a weekend gathering of EU leaders inBerlin to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, theforerunner of today's European Union. During two days of celebrations, the leaders will committhemselves to a Berlin Declaration, listing the achievements of the27-nation bloc and outlining its goals for the future. Merkel told Bild that the essence of Europe could be described ina single word - "Tolerance." She also lobbied for a European constitution, a draft of which hasbeen in political limbo since its rejection by French and Dutchvoters in 2005 referendums. "We need a EU constitutional treaty which is suited to thedecision-making mechanism of a larger EU," said the chancellor, whohas made reviving the document a key goal of Germany's EU presidency.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/434870