Brussels, 16/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Permanent Forum of Civil Society approved a contribution to the European Convention on Tuesday stating that, if there is no unanimity on the European Constitution, "governments of countries part of the majority must negotiate new relationships with Member states having decided to stay apart" (also see EUROPE of 11 October, p.7). According to the Forum, the institutional system must be based on: - the "constitutive, legislative and budgetary powers" of the EP and Council, respectively deciding through an absolute and qualified majority; - "a Union government with the power of initiative, execution and representation of the Union in external relations (the Commission); - the election of this government's president, which should "create the opportunity for a debate on the "common good"" (citizens should at the same time elect MEPs and the "government president, presented by a coalition of European political parties"); - the European Council, "with, notably, the task of expressing itself on the Union's major political guidelines"; - a "system uniting in a single body and on an equal footing national and European parliamentarians, to adopt, "through a double qualified majority, accession treaties, constitutional reviews and any increase in Community revenue".