Brussels, 18/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - Alain Lamassoure, one of the European Parliament's representatives in the Convention, has announced an initiative to involve the Convention in current thinking as to the geographical dimensions of the European Union. Clearly, it is not for the Convention to set the boundaries of the Union, but rather to provide ways of involving the people of Europe, either directly or indirectly via national parliament or the European Parliament, in any decision to open accession negotiations with a new country (apart from those already involved in the enlargement process). Currently, citizens and parliament get involved "a posteriori", once negotiations are concluded, whereas in reality it is the start of negotiations which determines whether a country is a candidate and whether they fulfil accession criteria. Neither the citizens nor the parliaments have any say at this decisive stage. The discussions on opening negotiations with Turkey are well known (a case already ruled on by the heads of state and government), as are possible applications from Russia, Ukraine and other former republics of the USSR, etc. Mr Lamassoure believes the Convention should make sure that the opening of negotiations with these countries and other potential candidates is preceded by parliamentary debates and possibly also by referendums.
Mr Lamassoure announced this initiative at an exhibition organised by The European Policy Centre (EPC), on the state of play of the Convention's work. Its reception was largely positive, as he believes the gains have already overtaken the results of two or three traditional IGCs (Intergovernmental Conferences), even though several important questions remain open. Mr Lamassoure stated that a large faction of Convention members (including europhiles and eurosceptics alike) were preparing a recommendation to the governments that the referendums on the constitutional Treaty be arranged for the same day in the twenty or so countries to be using this procedure.