Brussels, 16/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - “Dear Jean-Claude Juncker, why don't you begin the meeting by asking your colleagues if they are ready to discuss with the doors open?”, the president of the Independence and Democracy Group at the European Parlimant, Jens-Peter Bonde, asks in an open letter to the European Council on 16 and 17 June. The Danish MEP said: “On Thursday, 150 people will meet behind closed doors (…) to decide what was meant by the No-majorities in France and the Netherlands” (…) There will be thousands of collaborators in the building (…). You have no one in the buildings who can advise you about the feelings among those of us who reject your Constitution”. In his view, the “pause”, which will no doubt be introduced in the ratification process should be used to form a working group composed of an equal number of those for and those against the Constitution from national parliaments, the European Parliament and NGOs. The working group should make a proposal on “new rules of the game for European decision-making”, a proposal that should be approved by 75% of the group's members if the two camps have found a compromise - otherwise two different proposals would have to be made. The proposal (or proposals) would be discussed during one year throughout Europe. Then, each Member State would elect between 6 and 10 representatives for a new Convention, which would meet in public to establish “a simple basic treaty with around 50 articles easily understandable for everyone”. The Convention could work during one year, to then submit its proposals to referendums that would be held over two days in all Member States. If the text were approved in all Member States, it would take effect two months afterwards. Otherwise, an Intergovernmental Conference would be convened to “negotiate a deal which can be approved by the unanimity needed to amend the existing treaties” According to Mr Bonde, such an agreement could include opt-outs, enhanced cooperation, free trade agreements and “other methods of flexibility”.
Mr Bonde recalls that the referendum Intergroup of the European Parliament launched “seven ideas for a better Europe”, namely: - cooperation agreements between Member States rather than a Constitution; - the rule of transparency; - the election of European Commissioners by citizens from each country (who could “dismiss” them); - the adoption of the legislation in Council by unanimity or 75% majority; - control of subsidiarity by national parliaments; - greater flexibility in implementation of legislation; - and enhanced cooperation instead of “compulsory union”, defence remaining “completely separated from the Union”.