Brussels/Strasbourg, 5 June 2003

The Intergroup "European Constitution" launched a final urgent appeal to the Convention to conclude its work with one single text rather than several options, during its meeting in Strasbourg on June 4th.
Keeping the options open and postponing important decisions until the intergovernmental conference would be tantamount to a failure of the Convention.

The members of the European Parliament united in the Intergroup expressed their uneasiness with the amount of areas where unanimity is still required. The veto has to be overcome because, in a Union of 25, it would lead to stalemate.
In the European foreign and security policy, on taxation policy and issues of non-discrimination the transition to qualified majority voting had to be accomplished. Similarly, future amendments to the Constitution must not be blocked by the veto of one single member state.
The instrument of "enhanced cooperation" must be made easier to use; in particular in the area of defence policy it must become possible for a group of able and willing member states to move ahead in the EU.
The Integroup called upon the Convention not to allow a shift in the balance of power in the institutional set-up of the Union. A president of the European Council next to the president of the president of the European Commission was firmly rejected.

The Intergroup European Constitution unites about 230 deputies from the six major political groups within the European Parliament.

Contact: Intergroup Secretariat
E-mail : european.constitution@skynet.be
Tel. : (32)2/508.30.30
Fax : (32)2/626.95.01