[originaltext] European Union (EU) leaders are to gather in Berlin today for

European Union (EU) leaders are to gather in Berlin today for one of their most important summits in years. Over two, possibly three days of intense negotiations, the leaders will attempt to thrash out a deal on how the bloc is to be financed for the next seven years.
   They are also under strong pressure to draw a line under the crisis created by last week’s mass resignation of the European Commission by moving swiftly to appoint a successor to Jacques Santer as president of the EU executive.
   Former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has emerged as a clear favourite to claim the commission’s top job.
   Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, Portugal’s Antonio Guterres and NATO chief Javier Solana have all been named as possible rivals to the Italian, but Prodi is so far the only officially declared candidate.
   Having earned respect across the EU for the way he whipped the Italian economy into shape to clinch the country’s place in the single currency, Prodi has a clear advantage over his potential rivals in being immediately available.
   The heads of state and government arriving here will also have to decide the terms on which Prodi or any other incoming commission boss takes office.
   A quick appointment will allow Prodi to be approved--or rejected--by the European Parliament before it breaks up in May for June elections.