Brussels, 11/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - As we have already pointed out, the plenary session of the European Convention on 12 and 13 September will cover simplification of instruments and procedures (see EUROPE of 7 September, p.4). Convention Members have two reference documents on legislative procedures (including budgetary procedure) and current legal instruments.
On Thursday afternoon, the Convention Members will examine how to reduce the number of instruments available to the EU and how to clarify their legal effects, and will raise the question of how useful it is to establish a hierarchy of norms (an exercise that failed during earlier revisions of the Treaty). Furthermore, Iñigo Mendez de Vigo will present the state of progress of the work covered by the working group on "subsidiarity", which he chairs. On Friday morning, the debate will focus on procedures, their rationalisation and their simplification.
Furthermore, "second wave" working groups are to be launched on this occasion. They are on:
(1) External action: Jean-Luc Dehaene in the chair. The mandate covers the following issues: - How to define and elaborate the interests of the Union. - How to coordinate all the instruments available to it. - To what extent could recourse to the Community method be extended to other areas? How much flexibility can be envisaged with regards the rule of unanimity? What margin of own initiative can be allowed for the High Representative for CFSP? - What changes can be made in the arrangements for external representation of the Union.
(2) Defence: Michel Barnier in the chair. The mandate covers the questions: - What missions can be envisaged for the Union over and beyond the Petersberg tasks? (we recall that the fight against terrorism had been discussed at the European Council of Barcelona); - How can one ensure that Member States have the necessary ability to guarantee credibility of operational capability, including military capability, which the EU hopes to avail itself of ("headline goal")? Must one take inspiration from monetary Union and establish criteria for admission and a pact which should then be complied with?; - Should one extend strengthened defence cooperation? - How can one guarantee rapid decision-making during crisis management operations? How can one ensure consistency in the planning of crisis management operations? - How can one ensure large scale savings in the acquisition, research and development of armaments and should a European Armaments Agency be created?
(3) Simplification of legislative procedures and instruments: In the chair Giuliano Amato. The mandate asks: - How can the number of legislative procedures be reduced? By abolishing the procedure on cooperation? Generalising codecision (and simplifying procedures for meetings of the conciliation committee)? By generalising qualified majority to all cases coming under codecision? Can one simplify budgetary procedures? - Can legal instruments included in the Treaties be given a denomination that indicates their effect more clearly?
(4) Freedom, security and justice: Chair John Bruton. Questions are: - What improvements should be made to the Treaties, and especially to the instruments and procedures? - How can one best identify issues requiring action at EU level in the criminal field? - What adjustments should be made to the provisions of the Treaty defining Community competence, especially on immigration and asylum?