Strasbourg, 23/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - There were only three voices, in Strasbourg Monday evening --those of Jens-Peter Bonde (Danish, EDD), George Berthu (French, non-aligned) and Lennart Sacredeus (Swedish Conservative) - to oppose the report by the German Social-Democrat Jo Leinen and the member of the Spanish Parti Popular, Inigo Mendez de Vigo on the challenges facing the European Union and on the European Council of Laeken, which was adopted (with 24 votes) by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on the fringe of the plenary session. As Mr. Leinen explained at the end of the vote, this report contains two clear messages in favour of a "genuine convention" and an "in-depth reform of the Union" going well beyond the four points mentioned in the Nice Declaration. "The Convention must not be limited to a group of the wise", Mendez de Vigo agreed, saying, along with Mr. Leinen, that Parliament would have to adopt this report at its November session so as to keep up the pressure on governments and avoid any weakening of the Convention at the European Council of Laeken.
The report reaffirms the European Parliament's commitment to a "European Union that reflects the original project of a Union of people and States", and which "provides a stable and lasting response to the demands of democracy, legitimacy, transparency and efficiency". Consequently, "a Constitution for the Union has to be the goal of the Intergovernmental Conference", the report states, which then goes on to describe the place, role and workings of the future Convention:
Timetable and place of the Convention: the report would like the Convention to begin work immediately after the European Council of Laeken and end in time so that the Intergovernmental Conference may be over end-2003. The report also considers that the Convention has not to limit itself to a role of making proposals but must be directly inserted in the reform process. It proposes that the Presidium remains active after the end of the work of the Convention to take part in the Intergovernmental Conference.
Composition: the report pleads in favour of a composition that follows the example of the one that drew up the Charter of Fundamental Rights, retaining the same proportion, regarding the members of the EP, in relation to the other components. The Committee of the regions and the Economic and Social Committee should each be represented by two observers. The report regards it as essential to involve candidate countries by the participation of permanent observers (two parliamentarians and one member of the government for each country). It regards as essential the role of the Chair of the Convention, who has to be elected by the Convention and be a prominent politician and with parliamentary experience.
Workings: the report states that, to be effective, the Convention will have to agree to draw up a single and coherent proposal, reached through a consensus, to be submitted to the Intergovernmental Conference as sole basis for negotiations and decision. Work will have to be led by a Presidium, acting as a college and made up of the Chair, the Commission representative, two members chosen by the representatives of national parliaments, two EP representatives, as well as the representative of the presidency-in-office of the Council and the following presidency. The report comes down in favour of a permanent dialogue with citizens and civil society, notably through hearings. It would like the Convention to be assisted by an inter-institutional secretariat.
Mandate: the report stresses that the four subjects mentioned in the Nice Declaration are not exclusive and that the scale of the future reform and the choice of topics to be broached by the Convention must set out from a serene, rigorous and in-depth analysis of the EU's weaknesses and assets, as well as the role it will be called on to play in the 21st century. Among the subjects to broach, it cites, notably: - elaboration of a revised ESDP, comprising the definition of general objectives, collective defence and combating terrorism; - inclusion of CFSP in the Community pillar; - the Union's legal status; - strengthening of fundamental rights; - elimination of the democratic deficit that currently characterises Economic and Monetary Union; - the consolidation of cohesion and employment policies; - the drawing up of a common policy regarding police and justice (including in criminal matters) with full jurisdiction for the Court of Justice over the area of freedom, security and justice, the creation of a public ministry and Europol integration in the EU's institutional framework. At institutional level, the report also cites: - the update of the respective roles of the European Council, the General Affairs Council and other Council formations; - simplification of legislative procedures with a general principle of co-decision and qualified majority voting in Council; - introduction of a hierarchy of standards; - EP's full participation in the common trade policy, external relations, in setting up enhanced co-operation, budget decisions on the Edf and agriculture; - the EP's election of the President of the Commission; - the appointment of members of the Court of Justice with EP's assent.