Rome, 31/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - Addressing the Senate's and Chamber of Deputies' Foreign Affairs Committee and European Affairs Committee on 31 October, the Italian Foreign Minster, Renato Ruggiero, reaffirmed Italy's conviction that a delay in the conclusion of the upcoming Intergovernmental Conference on changing the EU Treaty would not be in Europe's interests in the slightest. Mr Ruggiero stressed that he was not saying this because the Italian Presidency wanted to handle the closure of the IGC during the second half of 2003, but rather to avoid institutional bottlenecks that are likely to be encountered in the first half of 2004 with the European elections, a new Commission, the debate on resources and the first new Member States, etc.
Mr Ruggiero explained that Silvio Berlusconi, during his meeting with the Commission in Brussels (10 October, Ed) had suggested that the former Italian Prime Minster, Giuliano Amato, chair the Convention that will be preceding the next IGC, arguing that this would help to put forward ambitious ideas and proposals if the Convention were to outline several options, rather than making a single proposal. Moreover, he came out in favour of a "constitutionalisation" of the Treaties and for a European Constitution to include the Charter of Fundamental Rights as a model of a Federation of Nation States and the possible election of the President of the Commission by citizens (or failing that, by Members of the European Parliament).
In his speech, which amounted to a confirmation of faith in Europe from the mouth of a European who understands the institutions (and how they operate) very well, Renato Ruggiero also said that the idea of a leading group or a potential avant-garde should not be opposed from an ideological point of view since this would run counter to the Community spirit since in reality, in the Community process, avant-gardes have been the traditional catalyst behind the integration process and the dynamic part of the Union.