Brussels, 09/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - At the plenary of the European Convention, which on 15 May will discuss the institutions and on 16 May the EU's external actions, including security and defence matters, some 1,500 amendments will be tabled (around 700 on the institutions and 800 on foreign and security policy), Convention spokesperson Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut told the Press on Thursday. The Convention Members will put forward up to 60 amend²ments on certain draft articles, such as those on the Presidency of the European Council and the composition of the European Commission, he continued, in answer to a question from the floor (but some of them overlap).
The spokesman indicated that in its sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, the Presidium not only prepared for the plenary of 15 and 16 May, but also discussed the organisation of the work following the plenary of 30 and 31 May, during which Convention Members will have a completed text, including preamble, the first part of the constitutional Treaty (objectives, institutions…), the second part (containing "probably the Charter" of fundamental rights), the third part (on policies, which previously featured in the second part), and the fourth part (final provisions). President Giscard d'Estaing "is currently working on the text of the preamble", said Mr Meyer-Landrut in response to a question. He also announced that the plenary of 30 and 31 May would be prepared by a three-day Presidium meeting, from 21 to 23 May. Then, in its final phase, the Convention would have to organise its work differently, the spokesman confirmed, stating that President Giscard d'Estaing would submit his ideas in a letter to the Convention Members. The idea seems to be (as already suggested by Klaus Hänsch) that the work will be carried out not only in plenary, but also between the component groups and political families of the Convention. At the plenaries of 5 and 6 June and 12 and 13 June, breaks could be called to allow these groups and families to discuss things between themselves, or the Presidium could call extra meetings. The objective is "faster interaction" between Convention Members, noted the spokesman.
As to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's invitation to Romano Prodi to join him in a public debate on the controversial question dividing them, that of a full-time President of the European Council, to take place in a European city (EUROPE of 8 May, p.5), Mr Meyer-Landrut indicated that the President of the European Commission had not yet replied (but the Commission spokesperson has hinted that the reaction will be positive: Ed). Which language will the debate be held in? This will depend on the city chosen, replied the spokesman. Will there then be a public vote? Will this be a representative public? Faced with this barrage of questions from the journalists, the spokesperson seemed quite taken aback at what appeared to be criticism of an initiative designed to get the European citizen more closely involved.
Citizens' membership of CFSP and ESDP
At their debate next week on CFSP and ESDP, Convention Members will be told that 63% of Europeans are in favour of a common foreign policy (22% against), and that 71% are in favour of a common security and defence policy (17% against). This is the result of a Eurobarometer survey, which was carried out at the request of President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Announcing this result on 29 April, President Prodi announced that Eurobarometer would conduct regular surveys on these issues. A press release added that this survey had been carried out in all fifteen Member States, between mid-January and mid-February, "against a backdrop of international crisis, but at a time when there was still the possibility of a Security Council resolution" explicitly authorising the use of force in Iraq. The press release acknowledged a certain falling-off since the November 2002 survey: four points fewer for CFSP (but between 8 and 10 in Ireland, Austria, and Portugal), and two for EDSP. The most positive results were recorded in Luxembourg, Greece and Italy (78%, 76% and 74% respectively), whilst support for these common policies is considerably lower on average in countries "with a tradition of neutrality" (Ireland, Finland, Sweden and Austria). The United Kingdom is the only country where the majority opposes a common foreign policy (39% against and 34% in favour), whereas 52% of the British are in favour of a common security and defence policy, with 24% against.
The Presidium this week also discussed the work of the discussion group on the Court of Justice, led by Commissioner Vitorino. Representatives of the Austrian and Belgian governments, Hannes Farnleitner and Louis Michel, wrote to the Secretary of the Convention on 6 May to express their regret at the absence of consensus on the improvement of citizens' access to the Court, and their hopes that an amendment by Mr Vitorino to this effect would be received favourably.