Framed by the flags of Italy, left, and the European Community former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi flashes a smile during a visit to city hall in Frankfurt, Germany, on Wednesday, March 24, 1999. Prodi was nominated to the new European Union chief executive earlier in the day by European Union leaders who are meeting in Berlin. Prodi will replace Jacques Santer, who resigned last week. (AP Photo/Heribert Proepper)