Bilbao, 11/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Federal Council of the International European Movement (IEM) chaired by Jose Maria Gil-Robles adopted conclusions at its meeting in Bilbao from 7 to 9 June on the powers and decision-taking in a an enlarged Union, as well as the way of electing the European Parliament (see EUROPE of 26 April, p. 4 for the proposals of the working party chaired by Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb, already approved by the Steering Committee of the IEM). Here are the important [parts of the conclusions:
1. delimitation and articulation of powers. Regarding a catalogue of powers "unnecessary and harmful", the IEM, however, calls of the future Constitutional Treaty or Constitution to define in particular: - the areas in which the EU "may or must intervene to fulfil its missions"; - the "degree of responsibility of the EU in each field". In addition, it places emphasis on a system for controlling the respect of subsidiarity and proportionality in Union actions.
2. decision-taking method. Here is the structure proposed by the IEM: (a) a collective presidency of the Union made up of the Heads of Sate and Government, who, in particular,, would: - approve the major political guidelines (without either legislative or executive roles); - appoint the European Commission and propose the Commission's President at the investiture of the EP; - "must decide through a double majority" (States and populations), with "possible constructive abstentions"; (b) a European Parliament which benefits from "complete co-decision" and that votes: - through an absolute majority of its members in legislative matters; - 2/3 of its members on constitutional matters; (c) a Commission, "executive, supranational appointed by its President in agreement with the European Council", which "must have the necessary number of members to play its role. Acting "collectively on behalf of the European interest", it has to have "the monopoly of initiative and execution of decisions". At the same time, "the Council's participation in major political decisions and guidelines as representative of the legitimacy of Member states must be maintained, as it is essential to the balance of the Community method"; (d) a "Council of States" (Council of Ministers) deciding "according to special majorities depending on the matter, and in all cases the double majority", and sharing the budgetary and legislative power on an equal footing with the EP. Finally, according to the IEM, the States which "consider that they cannot be associated with a new political decision taken through a majority may abstain" and "ask not to participate in its implementation" for a period yet to be determined, without, however, being able to prevent the other countries from forging ahead by the Community method". These countries would take part in Council discussions on these topics, but with no right to vote, and, if the actions in question are funded by the Union's own resources, "the exemption does not provide the right to a refund to the country that has stayed out".
3. Way of electing the EP. The IEM is in favour of: - direct proportional election by constituencies of a maximum of 10 MEPs, setting out from 5 MEPs per country, plus one MEP per million inhabitants; the election of 5% of MEPs in a single constituency for the whole of the Union.