Brussels, 28/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - Erwin Teufel, Minister-President for Baden-Württemberg and representative of the Bundesrat within the Convention, told several journalists, on Wednesday, that the main tasks of the Convention on the future of Europe are to define the powers of the Union institutions; search greater democracy, transparency and efficiency; and elaborate a "constitutional treaty".
The powers of the Union must be redefined. While saying that, in his opinion, national interests must always be defined in the context of the Union's interests, Mr Teufel presses for a catalogue of competences based on the principle of subsidiarity. The peoples of Europe want a strong and effective Union, but not a super-State, and it would, he says, therefore be appropriate to give countries, regions and districts the power to take decisions at their level in the most effective and most democratic way. But in what areas? For example, on matters relating to culture, health or even agricultural policy, where guidelines at European level would be enough. Mr Teufel commented that he has his list but that they should do one thing at a time. On the other hand, the EU must be able to do more, in some cases. Thus, in response to those who say that the Union has failed in the Balkans, Mr Teufel says it is the Member States that have failed, by refusing to give the Union the means to act effectively. Mr Teufel includes among the other principles that should be listed in a catalogue of competences: loyal cooperation and respect of national and regional identities.
Progress must be made towards democracy, transparency and efficiency. According to Mr Teufel, this can mainly be done by generalising the codecision powers of the European Parliament, by strengthening its budgetary powers, by establishing a single electoral system for European elections, by establishing a clear distinction between the Council's executive and legislative functions, and by designating the president of the Commission in another way (Mr Teufel said he could imagine the president being elected by the European Parliament).
The Convention must result in simplification of the treaties and a "short, clear" Constitution, which clearly shows the citizens who does what, who controls whom, and including the provision that, if necessary, complaints can be filed to ensure rights are respected, concluded Mr Teufel. He went on to add that he has read the Lamassoure report on the breakdown of powers (see summary in EUROPE of 15 February, p.5), and that he fully agrees with him. He hopes that his recommendations will be adopted by Parliament.
Mr Teufel was flanked by CDU and CSU members. The president of the EPP-ED Group at the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, once again urged for the next Intergovernmental Conference to complete its work under Italian Presidency, end 2003. One must not think that the Convention will manage to sketch out a draft Constitution within a couple of months, warned European CDU member Elmar Brok, who has a seat at the Convention, and who did not wish to conceal how difficult it is to reach consensus within a body where several political families are represented (but also within one and the same political family, he admitted). He does, however, recognise that the fact that MEPs make up two thirds of the Convention is positive. Within the Convention, it is not a question of "inventing something new" but of developing acquis communautaire by drafting it in a "readable constitutional form", said Mr Brok. He also insisted on the need for a transparent decision-making process since "as in national politics, if bad decisions are taken, the guilty party must be identified and placed before his responsibilities". He cited the striking example of lack of clarity - the story of the "blue letter" to Germany, with a Council where "judges and delinquents sit side by side". His last word was: the Convention should continue to exist throughout the duration of the Intergovernmental Conference, and be kept informed of its work. The Union must be both strong and agile, and more "extrovert", said CSU member Joachim Würmeling.