Strasbourg, 14/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - French Christian Democrat François Bayrou and French Green Daniel Cohn-Bendit have launched, on the fringe of the European Parliament plenary session, an appeal for Europe to become a democracy. The appeal is based on an observation: "Europe is the only answer to the problems of our future (...). Europe is beginning to assume its responsibilities. It demonstrated this in Kosovo. It did the same in Austria. It is putting on its agenda a conflict prevention policy. It is becoming aware of the shared values it defends. And yet, it is getting caught in an impasse. (...) European deliberations take place in total secrecy. Not even the media can stay on top of things. The public is totally excluded and citizens see European decisions as edicts over which they have no control, especially when their daily life is affected." Messrs Bayrou and Cohn-Bendit observe that democratisation of the EU has become vital because enlargement to 13 new Member States will inevitably paralyse its working. And they continue: "There is only one way out, a bold reform of the European Union. The small steps policy is doomed to failure."
The appeal continues: "After 40 years of obscurity, there is a need for transparency. The Europe of unreadable treaties must make way for a Europe with a constitution, accessible to all European citizens." And the heart of this constitution will be the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The constitution must establish the powers held by each branch. It must make a distinction between the Union's exclusive powers (monetary policy, conflict prevention, joint intervention in a foreign theatre of operations, the common agriculture policy, for instance), co-ordination powers (tax harmonisation and, in the longer term, social policy, foreign policy, North-South or East-West solidarity, for example) and shared powers (justice, environment, cultural identities, etc.). It will also have to establish clearly the practical arrangements for its revision, including sanctions where appropriate, and lay down the conditions under which a State may secede if it wishes. "European citizens must be given the right, like citizens of all other democracies, to choose their leaders", assert the signatories of the appeal, calling for election of a President of the Union by universal suffrage. "Representing the general interest of Europe, the symbol of this undertaking, this president should accept responsibility for the Commission and its make-up". There are several possibilities for election of the president: either, at some future date, direct election; or election within the framework of European elections, the designated leader of the political family with the top score becoming President of the Union; or, initially, election by a "European Congress" consisting of an equal number of members of the EP and of national parliaments. And they conclude: "We therefore call on the European governments, and in particular the Government of France, to initiate this constitutional process at the Nice Summit, in December 2000, with the goal of adopting a constitution for Europe that can be ratified in 2003. The Community institutions (Commission and Parliament) must be an integral part of this constitutional process."
At the press conference, Mr Bayrou insisted on the necessity of breaking away from the tradition of a "Europe of governments, diplomats and elite" and "recognising citizens' right to decide for themselves". Mr Cohn-Bendit explained that the choice of a process taking place between 2000 and 2003 responds to the necessities imposed by enlargement and the fact that Europe only manages to move forward when it sets time limits. Recalling that Jacques Chirac would be addressing the Bundestag before the end of the month, he stated: "We have given him a text to prepare his speech" and to respond to the proposals of German Foreign Minister Joshka Fischer. Mentioning certain States' opposition to a constitution, he said that the United Kingdom and Denmark must choose between being in or out; "this permanent double-dealing has to come to an end some day, to avoid being confronted with a sort of ongoing blackmail".