11 April 2002

- translated into english by JEF –

1. What are your opinions of the Convention process?

The Convention is a milestone in the history of the European Union. In contrast to previous reforms of the treaties discussion in the Convention will be open and will involve Commissioners, Members of the European Parliament, National Parliaments and representatives of National Governments. The opinions of Europe’s citizens will also be pooled and taken into account. We must use this historic opportunity to create a Europe of the people.

2. What do you want the Convention to achieve?

My aim is a European order, combining a European Union with a strong capacity to act with the necessary scope in decision making for the Member States and their regions, securing peace and prosperity for future generations. On the basis of the existing Treaties, a Constitutional Treaty for the European Union should be worked out. Basic definitions must be laid out in the Constitutional Treaty (values and basic decisions, fundamental rights, institutional organisation, legislation, definition of competences, finances, enhanced cooperation, rules concerning the alteration of the treaties). A comprehensible Constitutional Treaty would be an important step towards the creation of a Union closer to its citizens. I therefore hope that the Convention will deliver consensual and workable proposals.

3. What would you see as a success or failure for the Convention?

A real success would be an agreement on proposals for a European Constitutional Treaty that would guarantee the capability to act and democratic legitimacy of the European Union in the future, yet ensured the necessary scope for decision making for Member States and their regions.

4. What do you see as the role of the members of the Convention such as yourself, representing the national Parliaments?

I was delegated from the German “Bundesrat” (Upper House of Parliament) to the Convention representing the interests of the German Länder (States). The members of the Convention however benefit from a free mandate, which we should use in order to establish an acceptable consensus.

5. The question of the Union’s competences is clearly a central one. What would you like to see the Convention producing on this issue?

Indeed, the discussion about the organisation of competences is crucial. My aim is a clear order of competences, paying attention to the principle of subsidiarity. Issues should only be dealt with at European level if these cannot be dealt with at national or regional level. Alongside the EU competences, certain member-state competences should be explicitly defined, to act as limits to the Community competences. This should not lead to a freezing and stagnation of the integration process. There are also areas where the European Union should be given even more competencies. I am thinking here for example of a common European border police, executive authority for Europol, and a common foreign and security policy.

A special body should ensure adherence to the order of competences. This body could include representatives of the European Parliament and National and Regional Parliaments. It should be possible to call it at the earliest possible point during the European legislative process and make swift decisions. That way the process of European Integration wouldn’t be hindered by deliberations of the European Court of Justice lasting many years.

6. What role do you see for civil society in the Convention process?

The involvement of citizens is an important part of the work of the Convention. More and more commentaries, proposals and even complete Constitutional concepts are sent in for consideration. In order to collect and consider as many of these as possible, we are organising forums about these issues in the state of Baden-Württemberg.

7. President Giscard d’Estaing talked about the need to involve young people in the Convention process. What role do you see for youth organisations, such as JEF?

Young people are our future. For this reason they must also be incorporated in the debate on the future of the Union. The Youth Convention, that will take place in July, offers an especially good opportunity to allow young people to take part. In forums alongside this, JEF can be active together with other organisations to bring their ideas about the future of the European Union into the Convention Process.

8. If you had to sum up your goals for the Convention into just a few words, what would be the focal points that you wanted to achieve out of the process?

Clear division of competences respecting the principle of subsidiarity, a strengthening of the democratic legitimacy and transparency of the institutions, fundamental right of codecision for the European Parliament, expansion of decision making by qualified majority in the Council, a new way to elect the President of the Commission, inclusion of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Treaty, a removal of the ‘3 Pillars’ structure and the establishment of legal personality for the Union.