Brussels, 14/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - Adopting a report on the initiative of the Luxembourg Socialist Jacques Poos, the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs has called for a reform of the EU Council without amending the Treaty and keeping the system of rotating Presidencies. The MEPs felt that the General Affairs Council should be given more weight and meet more often, probably once a week. They also want the number of specialised Councils to be reduced from twenty to ten or so by combining subject areas (eg Environment, Health and Consumer Affairs, or Transport and Energy and …). The combined Councils would prepare Decisions but not actually take legislative decisions themselves. The MEPs feel that the Council meetings should be suspended if they do not reach a two-thirds quorum.
The Committee on Constitutional Affairs reaffirmed the EP's position that the European External Affairs Commissioner should take on the duties carried out by the High Representative for CFSP (and be one of the Commission's Vice-Presidents).