Brussels, 20/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - During Monday's presentation of a proposal for a European consultation to mark the end of the reflection period, Bronislaw Geremek (ALDE, Poland) and Carlos Carnero Gonzales (PES, Spain) explained that MEPs had been asked to reflect on the constitutional process and now had to draw conclusions. The two MEPs informed the constitutional affairs committee that a mass consultation would not aim to approve the final text, but would focus on three or four questions on the EU's political dimension. They also hope that the committee will support the own initiative report on the subject.
The two men want concrete questions with a few points of information. Geremek said that this may involve asking citizens to give their opinions about double majority voting, common defence policy and Community energy policy. Such a consultation could take place prior to the intergovernmental conference (IGC), which would be informed about the situation and Europeans' expectations when the Constitutional Treaty is ratified. The constitutional process timetable therefore involves acting fast, with the IGC being concluded under the French presidency in the second half of 2008 at the latest. Geremek said that the referendum could already be organised under the Portuguese presidency. He hopes that the initiative is supported by national parliaments and is therefore hoping to get a commitment on the matter from COSAC (Conference of specialised bodies on European affairs). Geremek also said that the consultation could take place at “the same time” in all member states, with a two or three day interval between them, depending on the rules in the different countries. He affirmed that this initiative is likely to help enhance EU transparency and political integration. Mr Carnero believes that the initiative will bolster “solutions on offer to us…prevent ratification becoming a form of Russian roulette” and strengthen the concept of citizenship.
The organisation of such an initiative is perfectly feasible, as the European elections in member states at the same time, proves. The proposal received the support of many parliamentary committee members, especially those who had elaborated proposals on the Constitutional Treaty, such as Gérard Onesta (Greens-EFA, France) and Andrew Duff (ALDE, United Kingdom). Mr Onesta said that the proposal was “essential” and “a major political signal”. He hopes that the idea will produce an own initiative report from the EP. The Greens/EFA MEP enthusiastically explained that although some countries did not think a referendum possible, what is being proposed did not have any constitutional value and could therefore be implemented. Bogdan Pek (UEN, Poland) saw it as nothing but an example of sensationalism. Pervenche Berès (PES, France) said that a more detailed debate was needed on the timetable and the questions to be posed, which could create quite a few difficulties. She links this initiative to a radical rehaul of the initial draft. (ab)