Brussels, 17/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - Former European Convention President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who drew up the draft Constitutional Treaty that was ultimately rejected by the French and Dutch, addressing the European Parliament constitutional affairs committee on Tuesday, welcomed that the negotiating mandate for the inter-governmental conference (IGC) on the amendment of the treaty retained most of the substance of the Constitutional Treaty, but regretted, too, that the future amending treaty would be “impossible to understand” for European citizens. If the mandate approved by heads of state and government at the European Council in June is adhered to, “the form will have been altered, what was difficult to understand will have become impossible to understand,” he said, noting that “the hope for simplification (of the treaties) will, therefore, not be realised”.
“The substance, however, will be retained and it is this substance which will give the best prospect for the ever closer union of Europe,” the former French President said. He also called on the IGC, which will be convened on Monday (see article below) “not to wander from the mandate as a result of any manoeuvring or rear-guard action” and to be “scrupulous” in picking up Articles from the Constitution when no amendment had been provided for in the mandate. Mr Giscard d'Estaing also regretted that “unfortunately, the European inspiration of this mandate is in retreat”, complaining notably that the term “Constitution” and the symbols of the Union were being given up. (hb)