Brussels, 07/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - In the face of serious faults in Nice Treaty, which do not represent a small progression, but a definite step backwards, the European Parliament's European Constitution Intergroup wants to send a warning signal - no to the spirit of Nice - and a call - yes to a constitution for Europe, said on 7 March to the press the MEP Alain Lamassoure (UDF, France). Mr Lamassoure noted the growing gap between the expectations of the peoples' and those of the leaders, who express themselves as if they where more European than their peoples', while the reality, as is proven by the European Eurobarometers, is that in less than eleven countries out of fifteen people expect more from Europe. More than half of Europeans are in favour of a European federation and 70% are in favour of a European constitution, including in the United Kingdom and Denmark, asserted Mr Lamassoure, when calling for a constitutional initiative and a wide ranging debate in which the word must be given to the citizens (and while regretting that the Parliament does not take part at its highest level in the launching of a public debate over the future of Europe: see other story).
We must create a new movement, that of the Friends of the European Constitution, stated the Social Democrat Jo Leinen when also speaking in favour of a new method, that of the Convention (the call made on Wednesday defends the "elected Convention" method, feeling that the Constitution of Europe must be drafted not by diplomats, but by representatives from all the peoples concerned, be they present members or official accession candidates, without those who may be reticent being able to prevent a union between the others). When we launched the idea of a European Constitution, in 1999, we where among ourselves, and the path we have followed in two years is "remarkable", felt the President of the Union for European Federalists.
As for the British Liberal Democrat Andrew Duff, he underlined the specific role that the European Parliament must play in the preparation of the next reform. The public debate, events with personalities, all this is excellent, but not sufficient, he said.
Other signatories from different groups were present at the press conference: the Socialist Carlos Carnero Gonzalez, the Greens Monica Frassoni and Gerard Onesta, the member of the United Left group Mihail Papayannakis, the member of the Union for a Europe of Nations group Mariotto Segni.