Brussels, 21/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, Benelux adopted a memorandum on the future of Europe (that we shall be publishing in full), which takes a stance in favour of a treaty that has the value of a Constitution. The text would be drafted by a "forum" in 2002 and 2003, to be finalised by an Intergovernmental Conference in 2004, under Irish or Dutch EU Presidency.
"Europe is preparing for more than enlargement. It is preparing for a deep change in European construction", Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt told the press, while Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Junker said that the Memorandum clearly says "no" to the vague impulses of the intergovernmental method.
The Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg governments take a stance clearly in favour of "constitutionalisation of the European project". They suggest: 1) better definition of the powers of the European Union and of the Member States, "without this examination being detrimental to the essential body of acquis"; 2) simplification of the treaties regrouped into a constitutional treaty; 3) the continuation of an open debate in 2001, with structured reflection within a forum in 2002 and 2003 and a "short" IGC in 2004. The Laeken Summit should mainly designate a "European personality of stature" to preside the forum.