Summary –

I. What do Europeans expect of the EU?

· Peace in Europe
· Freedom and personal security in Europe
· Economic prosperity by means of a free economy in a large single market.
· The maintenance and development of the European social model
· Solidarity between the regions of Europe
· Respect for diversity among all people in Europe
· A European Union able to speak with one voice in world affairs

European federalism is the mean by which these objectives can be achieved and should therefore be at the heart of a consensus in the convention and find its expression in a constitutional text for Europe

The IEM considers the community method to be the keystone of the European system. It ensures the necessary cooperation between the Union and its member states. Its balance should be explained and its functioning simplified.

II. Responsibilities and competencies in the European Union

The EM judges that the publication of a catalogue attributing policy areas respectively to the European Union or to its member states would be useless and damaging.

Demands that the basic constitutional treaty, or Constitution,
- should define
- those areas in which the European Union can or should intervene in order to fulfill its undertakings
- the level of the European Union’s responsibility in each area
- the procedures for decision-making, exclusion and control
- clarify the grading of competences within the Union
- in coordination competences, respectively
o in establishing the rules
o in execution
o in control measures

Judges it necessary to have a system of control in respect of subsidiarity and proportionality in the acts of the Union.

III. Decision-making method in the enlarged Union

I. The Union’s collective Presidency, composed of the Heads of State or
Government
- approves the broad political objectives (It has neither legislative nor executive functions)
- nominates the European Commission
- proposes the President of the Commission to be inducted by the European Parliament
- should decide by double majority [with the possibility of constructive abstention]

II. The European Parliament, elected by universal suffrage,
- shall participate fully in the legislative and budgetary process on an equal footing with the Council of States [full co-decision].
- on legislative matters it shall vote by an absolute majority of its members [= qualified majority]
- on constitutional questions it shall require a 2/3 majority of its members

III. The Commission as the supranational executive, nominated by its President in agreement with the European Council, should be inducted by the European Parliament. It should have the number of members neccesary to ensure strong political support and should be equipped with a strong and well-structured internal organisation.

The Commission, acting collectively in the European interest, should have the sole right to initiate and implement decisions. Participation by the Council in major decisions and political orientation should be maintained as being essential to the balance of the community method.

IV. The Council of the States (Council of Ministers) acting as the legislative organ representing the member states, shall be composed of national delegations nominated by each government and empowered to exercise their state’s right to vote.
It shall take its decisions in accordance with the specific majority rules for each policy area and, in all cases, by the double majority system [number of States, size of population]. It takes part in the legislative and budgetary process on an equal footing with the European Parliament.

V. States which feel unable to associate themselves with a new political decision taken by majority vote may abstain and request to be excused from implementing its provisions for an agreed period of time, though without preventing the other countries from going ahead by the community method.

Brussels, 07.06.02