In order that united Europe is successfully built, it is necessary to create a core of several candidate EU countries, Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs Renato Ruggiero told the Foreign Affairs Committee with the French National Assembly. According to Ruggiero, it is not possible only 27 countries, the number which will the EU member states will reach after the next accession, to decide on delicate issues as foreign policy, defense and security, especially after the September 11 terrorist assaults. Thus, the Italian Foreign Minister implied that the European Union expansion should be a simultaneous process. пїЅ Any delay in the EU expansion as far as East European countries are concerned, especially after the Berlin wall fall, will indicate retreat from our historical duty,пїЅ Ruggiero underscored.