Direct involvement of the public. For Europe to have its Constitution, the third (and last) phase is now to be accomplished - ratification by the Member States. After the consensus within the Convention entrusted with the task of drafting the text, and unanimity in its approval by the governments, the last phase will be the most exciting and also the most promising as it will directly involve all the citizens of Europe. I do not share the fears and reticence expressed by some observers about the Constitution being "put to a test". It will, on the contrary, be an unparalleled opportunity for getting across to citizens what a united Europe really means. Recently, I have read and heard too many commonplaces, uninspired and empty phrases and falsehoods on Europe not to wish for an open and democratic debate everywhere so that the citizens may decide, either directly or by referendum, or via their elected representatives. They will thus have the opportunity to understand what is really at stake and they will make a well-informed choice.
It is true that the citizens of some countries could come to negative conclusions and reject the Constitution: it is their right. But, although such situations do exist, it is better to know this rather than to move forward in doubt. Chris Patten, a British national, in fact called on his country to answer the fundamental question of whether, or not, it wishes to be at the heart of Europe, or if it prefers to remain on the edge. In the event of a negative response, one should not predict great disasters or situations eternally fixed without change. Two countries have already said they do not wish to join the Union, and yet their relations with the Union are excellent: Norway is part of the large unified economic area and Switzerland multiplies partial agreements along the same lines. They do not take part in decision-making, or in single currency or the more political aspects of the EU. That is their choice. One day, they will take the big step.
I do not believe in defection. Furthermore, personally speaking, I do not believe that any one of the current Member States will reject the Constitution but I deplore the cool attitude adopted before the prospect of major national debates and referendums. On the contrary, I hope these will take place as they will allow misunderstanding to be cleared up and respond to the avalanche of falsehoods in Europe, in order to understand what reality is. I have just received the acts of a conference, published by the "Robert Schuman Foundation", that was held in Paris in March on what was then still the draft Convention. To cite a few phrases by Robert Badinter, one of the most respected Convention Members at international level: "During the night of the occupation, I knew what Europe meant. When I see what it is today, I tell myself that it is an immense success, achieved by the European people, by the determination of the people themselves. Managing to impose the rule of law throughout Europe, and rejecting what we have always known, is considerable. Of course, Europe is stumbling along, hampered by pettiness, details, distrust and quarrels between neighbours. But I trust that, through the pain, one will see that there is no future for Europe outside Europe. This is my absolute conviction. No future for us, for our children or our grand-children, except in a strengthened, credible and independent European Union. In this room, the European Constitution will have been adopted!". It was in that room - and it will be indirectly tomorrow by the citizens.
Common policies will be defined by citizens. I deplore the ideological fanaticism of those who combat the Constitution because it does not fully correspond in all points to their own personal choices. Each of us has the right to fight for our ideas, of course, but each of us should be aware of the fact that this could not be done on a continental scale if there were not the European Union that the Constitution will consolidate and rekindle, and whose democratic working will be enhanced and improved. Not enough? That's true. We must now begin to reflect on how to make the future improvements. But one should not slide into the aberrations of those who call (and will call) for the Constitution to be rejected because it does not reflect their own political preferences. A Constitution must not transfix European policies, which must, on the contrary, be defined according to democratic procedures that the new texts will clarify, according to the "Community method". Thanks to the increased EP powers and the clarification of relations with national parliaments, it will be the citizens who will define the content of these policies. The vice-Chairman of the Convention, Jean-Luc Dehaene, said, on the day when the Convention Members had acclaimed their text, that he knew the final text coming out of the IGC would be less positive here and there, but not to the extent that it should be rejected wholesale only to make things worse. Read in the following pages of this bulletin the final result and the comments of those who approved it. We shall have time in coming days to look more closely at the strong and the weak points. (F.R.)