Paris, 21/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The former president of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, opened the "Mardis de l'Europe" in Paris on 19 June, in the context of the debate on the future of Europe, by the Délégation pour l'Union européenne de l'"Assemblée nationale". He reaffirmed that, in his view, the best way to reconcile enlargement with deepening is to create a "pioneer group", a "centre of gravity" or a "vanguard". Unless this road is chosen, there could be the risk of aberrations in European construction, said Mr Delors, according to a press release from Alain Barrau, president of the Assembly delegation.
The press release specifies that Mr Delors urged for strengthening of the Community method and for a "return to the basics" of the European Council, "which must stop adopting countless decisions many of which are not applied". One should beware of "those who boast about the design of the car but who never invite us to lift up the bonnet to see if the engine works. It is in the engine that the European Union's main weakness lies", said Mr Delors. While confirming his reservation about the idea of a European Constitution, which is "heavy with ambiguity", he said he is willing to support this idea if it means that a constitution would allow the European institutions to be made more democratic and to be brought closer to the citizens.