After the detailed mandates of the Working groups in the Convention were made public before the last session, the members of the Convention chose in which working group they would like to participate. It seems that some working groups were more appealing than others, as some Convention members have been awarded their second choice only.

Nonetheless, the fight around the working groups concerns less their composition than their mandate. Some Convention members and analysts indeed argue that the questions put forward reflect only parts of the whole spectrum of issues which are crucial in the debate on the Future of Europe. As most of the working groups have met or will meet before the end of June, there is almost no doubt that this question will be tackled in their respective meetings, and hopefully resolved. A comprehensive agenda for the working groups is a prerequisite for a successful outcome of their work. The first concrete proposals are expected at the beginning of September. By then, the working groups should be presenting to the Convention juridical texts, with a view to these becoming legally binding. The Convention has no other mandate than to draft the future European Constitution.

The documents presenting the detailed mandates of the working groups and the composition of each working group is available online under:
http://european-convention.eu.int/doc_register.asp?lang=EN&Content=DOC

Read a comprehensive analysis of the Working Groups mandates and timings, by Giovanni Grevi, The European Policy Center
“An integrated view of Working Groups’ mandates and timing”
There is some indication that new Working Groups will be set up shortly. It is crucial that their mandates address the key institutional and policy issues, where some divergence is likely to emerge, and that they report to the plenary session by the end of the year.

click here to read the analysis