Brussels, 27/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - Opening the Convention plenary session on Thursday afternoon focussing on the detailed work of presenting and discussing amendments to the first sixteen draft articles of the future European Constitution submitted to Convention Members by the Praesidium (see, for example, yesterday's Europe, pp. 6/7), the Chairman of the European Convention, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, said that nobody would understand if the Convention started its work again without taking into account the deterioration in the international situation and divisions within the European Union that have burst into the headlines.
The Iraq crisis, discussions at the European Council and the Security Council "have thrown a shadow and anxiety over our work", said Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, adding that never, even in otherwise dangerous periods like the Cold War, Europe had so openly displayed its divisions on the international arena. He warned that the Convention had to remain a forum which could respond to the aspiration of the majority of Europeans that Europe manages to speak with one voice, noting that even the best formulated texts would not suffice if there were insufficient political will to use them and in the absence of the instinct to consult European partners first of all, but regretted that mutual trust among Europeans had been shaken.
At the same time, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing tried to encourage Convention Members to not allow themselves to be distracted in their work, refusing to give way to resignation or be beaten down. They should continue with the rhythm of their work, speeding up if necessary. He insisted they had already achieved a lot, exhorting them to continue making proposals in simple, vigorous language - since crises can have a healthy impact. At the beginning of the 1970s; he explained, it was at the time of the first oil crisis, when the Middle East was burning and terrorism was hitting European cities that the European Council was born (his own creation since as President of France at the time he had proposed holding regular "fireside" meetings, as he put it at the time, rather than convening a summit when necessary, Ed). He added that what may soon happen (not mentioning war against Iraq) will enable them one day, but not today, to have a united presence on the international scene and "European diplomacy".
The French and German foreign ministers made similar noises on Thursday afternoon. The international situation demanded that they consider the role of the European Union in the world, said Dominique de Villepin, adding that it was more important than ever to affirm "common objectives". Joschka Fischer said the current crisis made it even more necessary to respect the Convention's timetable, agreeing on the future Constitution before the end of the year.
In his speech, which lasted more than an hour, VGE gave a few hints as to the timetable (see yesterday's Europe, p.5, on timetable demands by the Dutch government's representative on the Convention, Gijs de Vries). He announced for example that the 17/18 March plenary would discuss the European Union's finances and the European area of freedom, justice and security, along with the "very important and difficult to articulate" document on the third part of the Treaty (the EU's policies). The 3/4 April plenary will look at relations between the EU and its close neighbours and will hold a preliminary discussion on general and final measures. At the plenary on 24/25 April, the institutions and the European Union's democracy will be discussed.
Tomorrow, Europe will consider future prospects in discussions on the Praesidium's draft versions of the first 16 articles of the future Constitution. Valéry Giscard d'Estaing commented that he had 1187 amendments that left no space for his favourite tortoise (referring to his habit of bringing his pet tortoise along to plenary sessions, where it sits on his lectern). He added that there are 435 amendments to the first three articles alone…