Brussels, 03/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - In its "Minority Report" presented to President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (see EUROPE 31 May p 4), the Democracy Forum of which Jens-Peter Bonde came up with fifteen alternative proposals to those of the European Convention Presidium. By proposing that the European Union be replaced by a "Europe of democracies", Mr Bonde affirmed in a communiqué that, "This would pub power back into the hands of national parliamentarians. They would control law-making and would be able to elect the national commissioner and hold him/her to account". The President of the EDD group at the European Parliament added, ""Our proposals would also put an end to the hideously anti-democratic practice of the EU Court in Luxembourg legislating through legal activism". According to Mr Bonde, "We believe that although a minority in the Convention, we have presented a proposal which would have majority support among the peoples of Europe".
According to the draft, national Parliaments would have a veto on all issues that they believe are key: the President of the commission will be elected by the national Parliaments, and the Commission "shall act correspondingly as a secretariat for the Council and the national parliaments". Europe of Democracies and Diversities could, however, unanimously approve flexible cooperation for those nations that want to take part in closer cooperation".