The Dutch rejection of the European Constitution is a demonstration of the mounting fear over the challenges in future Europe, Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini said on Thursday.

These fears were linked to immigration, the economic crisis and social injustice, according to Fini, who was Italy's representative in the conference which drafted the European Constitution, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

However, the foreign minister warned that "the European integration cannot and must not stop. In the globalized society today, the only way to deal with the paradox is by forging a common front and not isolating oneself."

The Netherlands vetoed the European charter in the Wednesday referendum, after the French "no" on Saturday.

Speaking earlier on Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi suggested the mid-June European Council meeting discuss the double defeats in the two European Union's founding members, in order to find a solution.

According to Berlusconi, EU leaders need to reflect on the over- bureaucratization of the bloc, the excessive number of rules and regulations, and turn to focus on guaranteeing regional peace and security instead.

Source: Xinhua