Brussels, 08/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - Next week, the European Commission will pursue finalisation of its document intended for the Convention on the institutional aspects of the future constitutional Treaty, with a view to approving it on 18 November and forwarding it to the Convention.
According to indications available, the most innovative element would be represented by a formula for Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). While recognising that this area cannot be entirely governed by the "Community method", the Commission is proposing a solution that would nonetheless allow it to be included in the institutional framework of the EU. "Mr CFSP" and the European Commission for External Relations would become one and the same in the creation of a "European Secretary for Foreign Affairs" (with competencies comparable to those of the Secretary of State for the United States of America). He would be first Vice-President of the European Commission with specific status. He would be largely autonomous and not bound by the "rules of collegiality" as the other Commissioners are (which mainly means that his initiatives would not necessarily have to go before the College) and he would have a separate staff composed of European officials, and of officials and other agents of Member States.
The Commission is, moreover, to confirm its opposition to the creation of a long term president for the European Council and the Council, who would be appointed by the Heads of Government and who would abandon all national function. The European Commission considers that this solution would be in duplication with the Commission itself and would lead to the creation of a double European administration. Provisions must nonetheless be suggested to modify the current system of six-monthly rotating Council Presidency. Concerning the size of the Commission, several Commissioners continue to consider that the best solution for the enlarged EU would be that of a College with no more than 18 Commissioners, whatever the number of Member States. This position, however, is not held by the majority. The Commission could then propose an "evolving solution" initially comprising a College composed of as many Commissioners as Member States (but with a Praesidium having specific responsibilities), but that can be reduced in size at a later date. Details are still being discussed.