June 13, 2003

Today, the European Convention will accept by consensus the European Constitution. The Young European Federalists (JEF) welcomes the results as an important step along the road towards a democratic and federal Europe. Due to many shortcomings of the Convention result there is still a long way to go before that goal is reached.

“In the last eighteen months, Convention members have achieved more than most optimists expected from them,” stated Alison Weston, President of JEF.

“In the future European Union there will be a legally binding Charter of fundamental rights, a single institutional framework, a clear division of competences and a much better definition of Union policies.”

“These European ‘break throughs’ have been thanks to the success of the Convention method, which has involved national and European parliamentarians, governments, and has found a role for civil society.”

“However, it’s not all positive,” continued Alison Weston.

“Towards the end of the Convention, the IGC method has slowly and silently taken the Convention hostage.”

“Especially on institutional issues, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing allowed representatives of member state governments to veto decisions. The institutional balance foreseen in the Constitution is not a result of a Convention method, but represents the will of a handful of states.”

“We all know the shortcomings of intergovernmentalism. Just look at the conclusions of the Nice summit.” Jan Kreutz, Vice-President of JEF further stressed: “We do not believe and never will believe that an IGC is a better place to write a Constitution than the Convention.”

“The heads of governments should without doubt leave the Convention result untouched, although it’s doubtful that will be the case.”

“Several articles in the Constitution are inadequate because Giscard willingly and obviously ignored the majority opinion of the Convention members. There was a clear majority against a President of the European Council, and for the nomination and election of the Commission President by the European Parliament.”

“It looks like a major chance really to improve the democratic legitimacy of the Commission has been missed.”

“In addition, the Convention asked for further extension of qualified majority voting – including the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and for a special majority system (as opposed to unanimity) for those constitutional amendments that do not alter the order of competences in the Union.”

JEF believes that if the heads of states and governments feel the urge to leave their fingerprint on the European Constitution by amending the text in the IGC, they have to remember the key demands of Nice and Laeken: a more democratic, transparent and effective Union.

“Only if the clear majority opinions of Convention members are respected when it comes to CFSP, the Council / Commission Presidency issue, and constitutional amendments, will these aims come close to being fulfilled,” concluded Alison Weston.

By: Young European Federalists
Contact: info@jef-europe.net