Brussels, 01/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The representative of the Austrian government at the Convention on the future of Europe, Hannes Farnleitner, told a small group of journalists that he was "relieved" to note that, despite initial fears, the Convention will have "a regulation worthy of the name" (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.5). The former Minister for the Economy is enchanted with the "brainstorming" that is about to open, and also with the positive welcome reserved to his suggestion to set working groups in place as soon as possible, especially on matters that are the subject of "dissent". Preferably, the presidency of these groups should be held by delegates from countries that are not represented on the Praesidium, he stressed. On the substance of the matter, Mr Farnleitner considers that the Council should not be weakened. Some reflection is also being made along the lines of Commission strengthening, but the latter should perhaps give up its own-initiative monopoly, he added. He went on to ask: Why should the European Parliament not have this right?
MEP Reinhard Rack, (ÖVP), member of the Convention, spoke for his part of "an about-turn almost at the last minute" by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who, he said, presented himself to the Convention as a "servant" and not as an "autocratic" presence.