Brussels, 24/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - To take account of the requests made by the President of the European Convention, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the Greek Presidency has proposed to the Fifteen organising an extraordinary Council on 30 June devoted to the draft constitutional treaty drafted by the Convention.
As for the "round table talks" on fundamental questions relating to the institutions of the CFSP (see EUROPE of 18 March, p.8) raised by Valery giscard d'Estaing and that was held at the spring European Council of 20 March in Brussels, the Presidency proposes organising this at a meeting that would be held in Athens on 16 April following the signing of the Accession treaty. The meeting could bring together the fifteen heads of States and Governments of the EU and those of the ten countries on course for membership that should have the status of observer in all council formations following the signing of the treaty and participate in the future IGC.
Consultations are underway on this new timetable but the Convention spokesman, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut already conceded on Monday that it would be up to Giscard d'Estaing.
The additional session of the convention will be chaired, Wednesday 26 March (from 14.00 to 20.00 hrs.) by Vice-President Jean-Luc Dehaene, in the absence of Giscard d'Estaing who will be meeting Irish Prime minister Bertie Ahern the same day in Dublin. The plenary is to discuss Articles 1 to 7 of the future Constitution (definition, values, objectives, fundamental rights and citizenship).
On 27 March, the Presidium is to prepare a new series of articles that will be presented to plenary at its session of 3 and 4 April. This is a question of articles under VI (the democratic life of the Union), IX (the Union and its close environment) and X (belonging to the Union), as well as the third part of the future constitutional treaty (general and final provisions).