Brussels, 05/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - Liberal spokesman on constitutional affairs at the European Parliament (for the ALDE group), UK MEP Andrew Duff, has published new ideas on renegotiating the constitutional treaty. In a new pamphlet called 'Constitution Plus - renegotiating the treaty', he rejects the idea of a mini-treaty and suggests ringfencing Parts 1 and II of the constitutional treaty and making a 'small number of highly significant improvements' to Parts III and IV of the current text. Amendments suggested by Duff include a simplified revision procedure for Part III (normal amendments to common policies and operational rules should enter info force once ratified by four fifths of member states); the Charter of Fundamental Rights should be published separately as an annex to the constitution and enjoy a unique revision procedure; the treaty should refer to 'full employment' rather than a 'high level of employment'; the Eurogroup should be formalised in the new treaty 'to increase the leadership potential of the euro area states'; 'the social dimension of the single market and the objectives of an integrated European economic society should be laid down, complemented by a declaration and/or protocol of enhanced cooperation in social policy'; environmental policy 'should be upgraded and modified to include climate change and biodiversity'; reform and modernisation of the Common Agricultural Policy, the common fisheries policy and the common energy policy should be incorporated; and there should be a new chapter on EU enlargement policy.
Andrew Duff's pamphlet can be accessed at http://www.tepsa.be and http://www.andrewduff.eu. (hb)