16. December 2003

One of the two EP representatives to the Brussels IGC, Klaus HÄNSCH (PES) told Parliament today that:

"There is a danger facing Europe following the failure of the Brussels Summit. For years we have reached compromises based on the lowest common denominator. On this occasion the lowest common denominator was the Nice Treaty which would have meant the scrapping of the draft constitution. Therefore, it was better for the meeting to have broken up rather than scrapping the draft itself."The European Parliament will not allow this draft constitution to disappear into the archives of history. It remains on the table. Europe is indeed in crisis. We cannot carry on with 'business as usual'. A crisis is not overcome by stalemate but by movement.

"The danger facing us does not come from a delay in adoption of the constitution. Rather, it comes from a new development in which some governments want to see their national interests forwarded with the help of a stronger Europe and other governments who see their national interests benefiting from a weaker Europe. This is a new division and we must overcome it.

Read the full statement on-line:
http://www.socialistgroup.org/gpes/servlet/Main/Communique~2?id_press_release=2068&from=list&_wcs=true&lg=en