Brussels, 18/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - As part of “Plan D” (Democracy - Dialogue - Debate) launched by the European Commission in October 2005, President José Manuel Barroso, Vice-President Margot Wallström and Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel are currently visiting Copenhagen where on Friday Mr Barroso will be taking part in the annual conference on Europe, organised by the Commission delegation to Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen will also take part, as will political leaders, such as French Socialist Ségolène Royal. Mr Barroso will also meet representatives from the world of work. Ms Wallström will, among other things, address the European Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament, the Folketing.
Ahead of the conference on Friday, the leader of the Danish Social Democrats, and former MEP and member of the Convention, Helle Thorning-Schmidt will present a paper from her party - currently in opposition - on the future of Europe, entitled, Towards stronger European cooperation. “Openness and democracy need to be place at the centre of stronger EU cooperation,” we read in this document, which puts forward concrete proposals to “open up” the EU decision-making process, principally: - EU Council of Ministers debates should be completely open when draft legislation is being discussed; - the European Commission should make public the names and recommendations of the various members of working groups that have written drafts for Commission proposals; - the recent decision by the Commission, announced by Mr Barroso on 9 May (see EUROPE 9188), to send national parliaments all legislative proposals at the same time as to the European Parliament is a positive step, “but it would be beneficial if the Commission were also to invite representatives from national parliaments to briefings and discussions of such proposals”; - citizens should be guaranteed full access to information regarding all relevant documents from the EU. Danish Social Democrats also wish to see the EU's decision-making capabilities enhanced. It therefore proposes that Member States accept decisions taken by qualified majority “unless there are vital interests at stake”, even in fields where, according to current rules, unanimity is required. “Bridging clauses” provided for in the Treaty of Nice to move from unanimity to qualified majority should be used to the full, particularly in the fight against terrorism and cross-border crime. In terms of the CFSP, Danish Social Democrats argue for better coordination of the resources available to the EU under the direction of the High Representative, who should have full access to all Commission meetings. The paper also calls for a “more determined and pro-active policy” from the EU to fight unemployment and organised crime, and argues for the completion of the single market. The Danish Social Democrats recall that, during negotiations on the Treaty of Maastricht, Denmark argued for a separate chapter to begin a common energy policy: today it is important that the European energy market is complete and that national obstacles are removed, they argue.