Brussels, 21/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - Inigo Mendez de Vigo and Klaus Haensch, European Parliament representatives on the Presidium of the Convention on the future of Europe (which is meeting informally on Friday, chaired by Valery Giscard d'Estaing), have proposed five topics "structuring the debates of the Convention in the initial phase". They present these topics in the form of major questions.
1. "The Union, to what ends and for what values?". Among the questions raised under this chapter: "are there new forms of citizenship to build?" Must the EU "take account of the new values emerging in our societies?" "in the long-term, in liaison with enlargement, must we arrive at the adoption of a constitutional text?", must the Charter of Fundamental rights be integrated in the Treaty?.
2. "What place for the Union in the world?". How, for example, to formulate "more coherent" common foreign and defence policies? Must the Union's representation in international fora be enhanced?, ask Mendez de Vigo and Haensch.
3. What has the Union to do?. Here arises the question of the distribution of powers, implementation of the principle of subsidiarity, the reduction of the number of legislative instruments, more frequent use of framework-legislation, as well as citizens' expectations (notably for internal security, social cohesion, the environment). As well as: how to guarantee that this new distribution will not lead to a "furtive broadening of the powers of the Union" and that it will not trample on fields exclusively under the powers of Member States, and, "if need be, the regions", while ensuring that the "European dynamic does not weaken?"
4. "How to revitalise democratic legitimacy in the Union?". The two MEPs wonder, for example, how to strengthen "the authority and effectiveness of the Commission", how to appoint its president (including by "direct elections by the citizens"), whether Parliament's role needs strengthening (notably by strengthening its role of co-decision) and review its method of election (notably by creating European electoral constituencies), what has the role of national parliaments to be, whether the role of the Council needs strengthening, whether the Council should meet in public in its capacity of legislator…
5. "How to govern the Union?". Among the questions raised by the MEPs: should more decisions be taken through a qualified majority? Can we keep a half-yearly rotation of the Council Presidency? What will the structure of the different Council formations be in future?