Estoril, 21/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Congress in Estoril allowed the European People's Party to unanimously adopt its document entitled "A Constitution for a Strong Europe", which should be a guide for the Convention Members of this political family during the development of the draft constitutional treaty. Despite several novelties such as the references to religious heritage and spiritual tradition, the text remains very close to the last draft (see EUROPE of 23 and 24 September, p.6).
The EPP states that, through the European Union, they wish to develop a common project of civilisation which, in the globalisation era, combines the free economy and a society founded on solidarity and respect for the environment - such being their model of a social market economy. The EPP recommends creating a united and federal European Union. A Danish party (DKF) and a Swedish party (KD) hope to do away with the word "federal", whereas the Portuguese PSD proposed to replace it with "federal-type", but these amendments have been rejected. The French members of the RPR/UMP proposed replacing the whole of the text with the words "put the EU on track toward a federation of Nation States" but, as pointed out by Alain Lamassoure (UDF), who, with Marianne Thyssen (CD&V), was one of the two rapporteurs on review of the amendments, no RPR member was present to defend it and the amendment was taken on board by the German CSU. Mr Lamassoure developed two arguments against this amendment: (1) the federal objective has always been affirmed by the EPP and appears in its statutes; (2) the federation of Member States is inoperative in Europe where some States do not correspond to nations". The amendment was finally withdrawn. The EPP stresses that this new EU can only be created on the basis of a "European Constitution worthy of the name", which will take the form of the constitutional treaty being prepared by the European Convention. In order to bear the concern expressed by Forza Italia in mind, the EPP considers that the Convention should complete its work by mid 2003 at the latest, so that it may serve as a basis for an intergovernmental conference, which should finalise the European constitutional process end 2003 (therefore under Italian Presidency).
The EPP considers it is necessary to fix the position for European external borders and that the Union's geographic expansion should not be too much of a burden on its ability to integrate. The EU should propose institutionalised cooperation among the States that do not wish to join immediately. The EPP also proposes the creation of a "European partnership" intended for the countries of Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries, similar to the European Economic Area but including a political element.
"We should prepare a Constitution for the Union, addressed to all its citizens, conceived as a re-founding pact restructuring the different treaties and merging them into a single text relating to a single entity, the Union, which would have a single and full personality", states the EPP, taking a stance in favour of updating the definition of the powers to be shared between the Union and the Member States on the basis of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. The EPP considers that the Union's own powers should remain few in number but that it would be appropriate to add to this the definition and conduct of common foreign and defence policy, the legal foundation of the common area of freedom and security and the financing of the Union budget. Two references to religions were added a little further on. The text specifies that the Union respects the spiritual traditions and cultural, linguistic and legal diversity of its Member Sates and that the competences in these fields must remain at national level. It also adds that the introduction to the Constitution must recall what Europe owes to its cultural heritage. "European solidarity should remain the key element of European integration", states the EPP, which also considers that the financing system should be reformed so that its efficiency is increased, and the Union allowed to have own resources available and to help the least affluent. The EPP takes a stance in favour of creating, within the Court of Justice, a Chamber that is especially responsible for questions relating to the Constitution and to fundamental rights. The European Parliament, the Commission, the national governments and parliaments as well as the Committee of the Regions (ÖVP, PSD and EPP Group amendment at the Committee of the Regions) could appeal to this constitutional Court of the Union. The Congress rejected the amendments that aimed at revising the Charter of Fundamental Rights (Forza Italia) or deleting the paragraph concerning its inclusion in the Treaty (ÖVP, DKF, KOK). It takes a stance in favour of its inclusion as well as in favour of the Union's accession to the European Convention of Human Rights. It considers, however, that the "explicit principle of gender equality should appear in the Constitution in the form of an article with immediate effect" (amendment CDH, Women EPP, UETDC, PME of the EPP and Youth of the EPP).
In order to strengthen the national parliaments, powers must be clearly defined and governments must show proof of more openness towards them when they develop their EU-related policies, considers the EPP, saying it does not support the creation of a new institution of national parliaments at European level.
"Generalisation of the Community method as well as the abolition of the Union's pillar structure should be at the heart of the future institutional reforms", says the EPP, also considering that Parliament should become co-legislator on an equal footing with the Council, including in the fields of the common trade policy and competition. The role of the European Council should be restored to its original scope (general policy impetus and guidelines). The decision-making procedures within the Council must be more democratic, more transparent and more effective, says the EPP, pleading in favour of a "genuine legislative Council". In general, it should decide through a majority, but unanimity should be retained for areas where ratification by Member states is required. The Commission's executive role must be strengthened and its monopoly over initiative must be guaranteed.
The head of the EPP Group within the Convention, Germany's Elmar Brok, welcomed the adoption of the text that supports the European Commission's executive role. He also considered the idea of an EU president no longer to be on the agenda. (The text simply states that the European Council "must have an internal structure guaranteeing an effective political direction and strengthening the image of the Union and its weight on the international stage"). He welcomed the choice of an appointment procedure for the Commission president that provides for the Council designating through a majority in the light of the results of the European elections and the investiture by the European Parliament. Mr. Brok also welcome the vote in favour of the generalisation of the Community method and the abandonment of the pillar structure.
We shall soon be publishing the text in full of the EPP document in our EUROPE/Documents series.