Brussels, 24/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - Representatives of European civil society began, in Brussels on Monday, to explain their hopes for the future of Europe of the European Convention (see page 5). As Valery Giscard d'Estaing said, contacts with civil society will doubtless be maintained so as to gather reactions to the proposals the Convention will make (see out special edition on the European Council of Seville, p.5). The session of 24 and 25 June with civil society was prepared by "contact groups" chaired by members of the Convention's Presidium (see EUROPE of 10/11 June, p.6). EUROPE will return to the my contributions of civil society.
UNICE pleads in favour of Community method but is against granting binding force
to Charter of Fundamental Rights
In its contribution to the work of the future of Europe, UNICE stresses the need for: (1) a clearer division of competences and related decision-related procedures: "The Convention must also consider ways in which respect of the subsidiarity principle, in both its territorial and functional dimension, can be ensured strictly and systematically"; (2) the preservation of the Community method and to ensure an efficient institutional framework: qualified majority voting should become the general rules, says UNICE; (3) lighter regulatory framework coupled with increased use of co- and self-regulation. An impact assessment of legislation must be carried to in a systematic way by an independent body to be established. There should be more on-going and rigorous monitoring of transposition into national legislation of European rules in order to avoid disparities in implementation, says UNICE, also proposing the adoption of a method for consultation. European employers, considering that certain articles of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, relating to economic and social rights, my not be integrated into a revised Treaty, states hat the current text of the Charter is not apt to become a binding legally instrument.
CEEP calls for chapter on services of a general interest
In his address on Monday, the President of the European Centre of Enterprises with public Participation and of Enterprises of General Economic Interests (CEEP), Joao Cravinho, stressed that general interest is one of the common values of the Union which illustrates the European economic and social model, and even distinguishes it from other models of reference. "It must form a pillar of the future European project, especially within the prospect of enlargement", said Mr. Cravinho asking the Convention to draw up a draft Constitutional treaty that offers services of a general interest a status instead of considering them as exceptions to the general laws of competition. Mr. Cravinho pleaded in favour of the drawing up of a chapter devoted to services of a general interest that, notably, provides for: - the Community and Member states, each within their respective competences, facilitating the implementation of a services of a general interest in order to accomplish its missions; - the funding of supplementary costs due to public service requirements to be compatible with competition rules; - the Union can define Union-wide services of a general interest that particularly help implement policies for which the Union has a predominant competence.
EHF against reference to religious belonging and European heritage
The European Humanist Federation (EHF), which brings together the main humanist and sectoral associations of EU member States and candidate countries, calls on the Convention to avoid any discrimination between religious or philosophical convictions. It is opposed to any reference, in the text of the future Constitutional Treaty, of God to the continent's religious tradition. "To recall a religious heritage to found Europe, is to forget that religions have been and still are a factor of division of populations, vectors of intolerance in the name of a truth that each claims to obtain", stresses the EHF, referring to the wars between religions. The EHF considers that it is wise to avoid references to that divide and simply and clearly say that the Union is based on the indivisible and universal principles of dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it rests on the principle of democracy and the rule of law".