Intergroup 'European Constitution' within the Convention, meeting on the 7th of February 2003 in Brussels:
The meeting was convened in order to discuss the common proposal to the Convention by Alain LAMASSOURE and Josef ZIELNIECE on institutional arrangements. On the initiative of the Intergroup European Federal Constitution within the Convention this contribution has now already been signed by Convention Members and Alternates from the European Parliament, from National Parliaments and Governments of the Member states and the accession candidate countries, as well as by Observers from the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee and from the Social Partners. As you will read hereafter the main political groups (EPP, PES, ELDR and GREENS) are also represented among the first signatories. The aim of the contribution is to exert collective pressure and influence on the work of the Convention and, in particular, the Praesidium.

The first (19) signatories are : Filadelfio Guido BASILE (Parliaments, PPE-DE, I), Irena BELOHORSKA (Parliaments, SK), Mihael BREJC (Parliaments, PPE-DE, SLO), Roger BRIESCH (Obs./ ESC, F), Carlos CARNERO GONZALEZ (EP, PSE, E), Proinsias DE ROSSA (Parliaments, PSE, IRL), Andrew DUFF (EP, ELDR, UK), Ben FAYOT (Parliaments, PSE, L), Emilio GABAGLIO (Obs./ Soc. Part., ETUC, I), Claude du GRANRUT (Obs./ CoR, PPE-DE, F), Piia-Noora KAUPPI (EP, PPE-DE, SF), Alain LAMASSOURE (EP, PPE-DE, F), Hanja MAIJ-WEGGEN (EP, PPE-DE, NL), Marie NAGY (Parliaments, GREENS, B), Alojz PETERLE (Parliaments, PPE-DE, SLO), Nicolas SCHMIT (Governments, L), Istvan SZENT-IVANYI (Parliaments, ELDR, H), Anne VAN LANCKER (EP, PSE, B), Josef ZIELENIEC (Parliaments, PPE-DE, CZ), . . .

The contribution to the European Convention looks as follows:

COMMON DENOMINATOR ON INSTITUTIONS

I. Legislative power : generalisation of the "co-decision" procedure The legislative power of the Union is equally shared between the Council and the European Parliament.

II. Budgetary power : a single budget of the Union The Union has one single budget, which is proposed by the Commission. The budget is adopted by the "co-decision" procedure; if the Council and the Parliament fail to agree, the Parliament has the last word.

III. Executive power : the Commission with stronger democratic mandate The President of the Commission is elected by simple majority in the European Parliament. Then, he/she submits a proposal of the composition of the whole Commission - which will ask a vote of investiture both in the European Parliament (acting by simple majority) and in the European Council (acting by qualified majority).

IV. Better balance between main institutions of the Union: possibility to dissolve the European Parliament As the European Parliament becomes stronger in its legislative and budgetary powers and in its influence over the Commission, it has to be more accountable. Thus, if it overthrows the Commission, the European Parliament should be dissolved.

Contact: E-mail: mailto:uef.european.federalists@skynet.be Website: http://www.federaleurope.org