Brussels, 23/08/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has just published two reports on the European Convention: the first (N.79/2000) by Burkard Steppacher and Udo Margedant, describes the Convention's mandate, composition and main problems posed during the first phase of its work; the second (N.80/2002 in German and N.81/2000 in English) by Burkard Steppacher and Markus Kraft, synthesises the main proposals that are currently on the table with regard to a future European constitution.
This second document creates a parallel document to the European Union Treaty and the European Commissioner Treaty of 2 October 1997: the draft paper of the EPP of 7 March 2002 entitled "A Constitution for a Strong Europe" (the definitive document is expected to be adopted at the EP summit in Estoril on 17-19 October; CDU-CSU suggestions of 26 November 2001 on a "Constitutional European Treaty" ("Schäubel-Bocklet-Paper"); Alain Lamassoure's resolution on the divisions of competencies adopted a the plenary on 16 May 2002; the European Commission Communication of 22 May 2002 entitle "A Project for the European Union".
Whilst taking into account that the suggestions in the documents are very different on several points, the report writers believe that we can identify five key issues which are at the centre of current reforms: 1) What should the legal status of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights be? How to simplify the Treaties without changing their content? 2) How can the division of competencies between the EU institutions and Member States be divided? 3) How should the division of competencies be organised between the Union institutions? What is the role of the national Parliaments within the EU? 4) How can the coherence and efficiency of the foreign policy of the European Union be guaranteed? 5) How can the democratic legitimacy of the European Union be strengthened? What are the expectations of citizens towards the European Union?
(Address: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Rathausallee 12, D-53757 Sankt Augustin. E-mail: zentrale@kas.de Sit: http: //http://www.kas.de ).