INTRODUCTION

This informal discussion paper is based on

- the existing acquis communautaire;
- the deliberations of the Convention Working Groups and in the Convention plenary sessions;
- the European Parliament Resolution based on the Report by Alain Lamassoure on the division of competences between the European Union and the Member States;
- the EPP document "A Constitution for a Strong Europe", as adopted at the EPP Congress in Estoril on 18 October 2002;
- the deliberations of the EPP Convention Group study days in Frascati on 8-10 November 2002;
- numerous comments received from Convention members and academics.

This new version of the discussion paper attempts to consolidate earlier drafts with the structure of the Preliminary draft Constitutional Treaty presented by the Convention Presidium on 28 October 2002 . References to the Preliminary draft Constitutional Treaty of the Convention Presidium are included in the footnotes (bold and underlined). Footnotes indicate the origin of individual articles of the Constitution in the acquis communautaire and in the work of the Convention Working Groups. This discussion paper is designed to help ensure that the work in the Convention will result, in the end, in a concrete constitutional text. It is not intended to anticipate the final results, but should serve as a basis for further discussions within the Convention. The character of the discussion paper is therefore that of a "work in progress". The text is meant to be further adjusted according to the discussion process in the EPP Convention Group and in the European Convention.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Table of Contents

PREAMBLE

Part One: Constitutional Structure

Title I: Charter of Fundamental Rights and Union Citizenship

Chapter 1: Human Dignity
Chapter II: Freedoms
Chapter III: Equality
Chapter IV: Solidarity
Chapter V: Citizens’ Rights
Chapter VI: Justice
Chapter VII: Union Citizenship
Chapter VIII: Scope of Guaranteed Rights

Title II: Definition and Objectives of the Union

Title III: Union Competence and Actions

Title IV: Union Institutions, Organisations and Bodies
Chapter 1: The European Parliament
Chapter 2: The Council of the European Union
Chapter 3: The European Commission
Chapter 4: The European Court of Justice
Chapter 5: The European Court of Auditors
Chapter 6: The Union’s Specialised Organisations: ECB, EIB and Europol
Chapter 7: Committee of the Regions; Economic and Social Committee
Chapter 8: The Union’s Decentralised Bodies

Title V: Implementation of Union Action

Chapter 1: Union Instruments
Chapter 2: The Legislative Procedure of the Union
Chapter 3: Enhanced Cooperation
Title VI: The Democratic Life of the Union
Title VII: The Finances of the Union
Title VIII: Union Action in the World
Title IX: The Union and its Immediate Environment
Title X: Union Membership

Part TWO: Union Policies and their implementation

Part Three: General and Final Provisions

Final Title

ANNEX I: List of Protocols Annexed to the Constitution

ANNEX II: List of Overseas Countries and Territories

To read the full text, see: http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/02/cv00/00325-r1en2.pdf