The European Commission has set out plans to reform its structures in a bid to be seen as more relevant to the people it serves.

After 18 months of consultation, the commission unveiled its white paper on EU governance as part of a campaign to make Europe more transparent, democratic, effective and coherent.

It is hoped the measures will create a sense of European citizenship - reducing the prospect of future "No" votes similar to that seen in the Irish referendum on the Nice Treaty.

The proposals will form the basis of discussion on the future of European at the Laeken summit in December.

A greater role is to be given to the regions, cities, non-governmental organisations and trade unions under the planned changes. Such a move could provoke anger within the larger member states.

Spain is said to oppose any further control going to its regions, and France, Germany and the UK are jealous guardians of their power.

At the Nice summit they consolidated their power through changes to Qualified Majority Voting (QMV).

The reform package follows speeches by leading politicians from France, Germany and the UK on their visions for the future of Europe.

Joshcka Fischer, German foreign minister, caused waves in the UK when he called for increased federalism and suggested a "core group" should be allowed to forge ahead with policies.

He also first mooted the idea of a second chamber for European parliament. Germany is also pushing for a European Constitution, which would clearly define the European Union's competences.

There is growing support amongst member states and MEPs for a European Constitution. The UK is against such a move saying there are already several grey areas, such as public health and education, where it would be detrimental to delineate competences.

In May, Lionel Jospin, the French prime minister, called for an "economic government" of the EU to balance the political union. He also pressed the traditional French demands for greater social protection by the creation of a European Social Treaty.

Tony Blair, speaking in Warsaw, built on Fischer's idea of a second chamber for European parliament suggesting that it could be made of national parliamentarians.