Europe’s 50th birthday is fast approaching but nobody can agree what to write on the card.

A grand statement — the Berlin declaration — is planned next month to commemorate the founding in 1957 of what is now the EU, but the 27 member states are increasingly divided about what to celebrate.

Luxembourg is pushing for a prominent mention of the euro as one of Europe’s greatest achievements. But this will not go down well in Britain and Denmark, where the single currency was rejected.

Poland and Italy want to emphasise Europe’s Christian values but are opposed by the French, who prefer to keep religion out of politics.

The Czechs and Poles want a strong statement on security but the French and Germans are worried that this will aggravate the Russians. Germany and Spain are keen to look ahead to a revived constitutional treaty, which is upsetting the Dutch and the British.

Diplomats are concerned that a well-intentioned gesture to celebrate 50 years of peace and prosperity risks portraying Europe as factionalised and self-interested.

Britain’s main aim is to keep the Berlin declaration short and simple — and to avoid it becoming a Trojan Horse for a constitution that creates an increasingly integrated and powerful European Union.

The text is due to be published on March 25 in Berlin because Germany holds the EU’s rotating presidency. It will be drafted by Angela Merkel, the Chancellor, and discussed by European leaders in Brussels on March 8.

A British diplomat told The Times: “We could write this declaration on one side of A4. They must not make it a Christmas tree which everyone hangs their stuff on.”

Fears that it could prepare the ground for new economic regulations and social directives have been stoked by a statement from nine member states that the anniversary should proclaim the “indispensable balance between economic freedoms and social rights, so that the internal market can become an area also regulated by a social plan”.

This was signed by Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain. To Britain and others this sounds like a recipe for more red tape to burden business and more intervention in people’s lives.

Mrs Merkel, however, is understood to believe that a positive reference to the “social dimension” will be necessary to convince France that the EU has not become too pro-business. This would help her campaign to revive the proposed constitution rejected by French voters in a 2004 referendum.

Former Iron Curtain countries are growing increasingly concerned that their experience under communism will be airbrushed out. After all, the 50th anniversary technically applies only to the six founding members — France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Most of the former communist countries did not join until 2004.

Marek Cichocki, Warsaw’s chief negotiator on the declaration, said: “It shouldn’t simply be a self-celebration by the old member states. It should also make mention of the dark legacy of European policy.”

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