Brussels, 14/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the Belgian PS published "Socialist Proposals for the European Convention" in which it places emphasis on a more united and prosperous Europe, meaning in particular that the future Constitutional Treaty will have to establish "a new European social contract, for which the Charter of Fundamental Rights should constitute the preamble", and which would, notably, aim to "implement a co-ordinated approach to wage developments in the euro area". In addition, according to the PS, the European Convention should study the possibility of introducing a "binding mechanism" (in other words sanctions) for the failure to respect fundamental social rights, as happens for budgetary and competition policies. The PS also calls for the setting up of an "economic and social government" which, on proposals from the Commission, would develop "socio-economic priorities" that Member States would have to attain (for example, rates of economic growth, minimum and maximum level of taxation, "margins for growth in wages", "the implementation of a European industrial policy", an percentage for the increase is social spending" and "organise the monitoring of the respect" of these guidelines.
In economic and social matters in Europe, "we have the instruments", PS Leader Elio Di Rupo, who represents the Belgian Senate in the European Convention, told the press. As for the PS's objective of rendering "the Union more active in the world", Di Rupo was unequivocal, even though he certainly is no "militarist", for a Europe that is also a military power. "I don't want it to be the Texans, with their (…) application of the death penalty, their lack of knowledge of the rest of the world, who determine my existence", he stated. The PS is in particular in favour of applying the Community method to CFSP (thus, elimination of the "second pillar"), the integration of the High Representative for CFSP in the Commission, as Vice-President and "with a special status" (he or she could also have at their disposal "a genuine network of European ambassadors), the allocation to the Union of a single seat in international institutions, a "humanisation of globalisation" and the opening up of a debate on "the transformation of the Union into an alliance of collective defence".
To ensure that "Europe becomes safer and fairer", the PS here too proposes the application of the Community method and a "Council of public freedoms and human rights" composed of representatives of civil society and associations and which would provide prior opinions on the matter.
As for the aspiration of a "more democratic Europe", the PS places special emphasis on an "effective control" of the principle of subsidiarity (questioned by the press on a possible control mechanism, Di Rupo cited, as example, the Belgian Court of Arbitration, "a kind of Constitutional Court", made up in part of legal experts and in part of politicians - often former parliamentarians or former ministers). The European Convention should propose three types of categories of powers: - powers exclusive to the Union (to which should be added customs union, asylum/immigration, external economic relations and the Union's external representation, rights and obligations linked to Union citizenship, the Union's monetary and budgetary policy); - rival powers (common policies to which should be added CFSP, justice and home affairs, and "economic, employment and social policy"); - complementary powers (R&D, education, professional training, culture and youth). "Whatever, the Union cannot have any of its powers taken away by re-nationalising policies", says the PS. Regarding institutions, the PS considers in particular that the European Commission should focus "on its role of policy proposals, and would be discharged of some of its tasks that would be taken on by agencies (for competition, for example) which would be "democratically controlled" (that the control agency be handed to Copenhagen"). According to the PS, however, the Commission should be handed new responsibilities in areas where now it is little involved, like justice and foreign policy. Finally, the PS considers that regions with legislative powers should "benefit from certain special rights in the framework of the Union", and have, for example, the right of directly turning to the Court of Justice when their powers are at stake. ("Should they get angry", regions like Belgian regions could lead to deadlock, Mr. Di Rupo warned).