14. December 2003

LYMEC, European Liberal Youth notes with great concern the collapse of the IGC. The actions and stubbornness of certain European countries leading up to the collapse of the Summit in Brussels once again proved, that a large number of Heads of States care more about their own isolated interests than about building a democratic, prosperous and functional European Union.

"The failure of the IGC to reach an agreement on the Constitutional Treaty is a major step back in democratic development of the European Union." Said Ellen Trane Nørby, LYMEC president and continued: "The childish and self-centred approach of some European States have brought our cooperation into a shocking situation. Not least the Polish and Spanish unwillingness to reach a compromise has posed great harm to the EU. The Polish negotiation strategy seems to be a left over from the time when Poland was a communist satellite state and the negotiations with the autocracy in Moscow was all about being stubborn and not wanting to compromise. This is however not the nature of a volunteer and democratic European cooperation. I therefore encourage Poland and the rest of the countries to understand and respect the nature of and the need for compromise in a democratic and united EU".

LYMEC notes with concern several of the reasons leading to the collapse:

- Failure to recognise the democratic legitimacy of the Convention and approve their proposal for a Constitutional Treaty.
- Failure of the Italian Presidency to mediate and in sound way lead the IGC.
- Failure of the Heads of States to look beyond their own isolated interests.
- The lack of understanding and respect for the nature of the EU cooperation.

Read the full press release on-line:
http://www.lymec.net/article.php?sid=231