Brussels, 09/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - MEP Andrew Duff, Member of the European Convention has welcomed the Convention Presidium's presentation of a preliminary draft constitution (see Europe/Documents N.2294/2295 dated 31 October 2002) but is critical of certain categorisation of certain articles, which in themselves set out certain options.
The British Liberal Democrat asks whether the direction is finally going towards "something very close to the very catalogue of competences that the plenary has firmly rejected" and refers to Articles 9-11 where "exclusive" and "shared" competences and areas of support action (according to Mr Duff, this "rigid" categorisation does not help develop any understanding of what capacity for action the Union has. The MEP considers that "the constitutionalisation of the Union" should allow for a "more permissive approach to the delimitation of competences (e.g. the need to fight against bio-terrorism, whereas Article 152 limits the field of EU action in health matters); neither is he convinced that "enhanced co-operation" should be included in the Treaty. In its place the "possibility of an associate membership of the Union could be considered", which would obviate the need for a separate Title IX on the Union's neighbourhood. Mr Duff does not consider that "it is felicitous to insist on a European location as a precondition for EU membership" and thinks that accession criteria should be defined in terms of, "liberal democracy and market economics rather than geography, culture, religion or history". The Presidium's preliminary draft alludes to a Union open to all countries in a Europe that closely respect its values and fundamental rights and rules on how the Union works.