Brussels, 12/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - German Social-Democrat Jo Leinen echoed the President of the EPP-ED group, Hans-Gert Pöttering (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.7), in welcoming the consensus that was reached at the Gymnich style meeting in Genval, on setting up a Convention to prepare for the upcoming Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). Mr Leinen was particularly pleased that even the Scandinavian and UK sceptics had agreed. He felt that the 19 October Summit in Ghent should designate the President of the Convention, and the Convention should start work at the beginning of 2002 in order to finish towards the middle of 2003.
Luxembourg MEP Ben Favot (formerly a member of the EP's PES grouping), criticised the views expressed by the President of the Party of European Socialists, Robin Cook, who said that the PES wanted the Convention that was due to be set up at the Laeken Summit in Brussels to have a very wide membership, including civil society (see EUROPE of 6 September, p.5). Mr Fayot said that in his view, this would be the best way to sabotage the new Convention right from the outset since there was a danger that it would be extended so wide that no true debate or unavoidable compromise would be possible. He felt that the success of the Convention that had drawn up the European Charter of Fundamental Rights was largely due to the small number of people deeply involved (62 in total) with a wise balance between MEPs and government representatives, although the restricted official membership was open to civil society and completely transparent through the use of the internet.