On the failure of the Brussels IGC and the future of the draft European Constitution

The Federal Committee of JEF-Europe, meeting 26th-28th March in Barcelona:

Affirms:
- Its support for the work carried out by the Convention to produce a draft European Constitution that, while impossible to consider as a Federal European Constitution, will advance the cause of European federalism when it is adopted, and can be a decisive step towards the goal of a Federal European Constitution.
- Its rejection of the IGC method as a means of treaty / constitutional reform in the future in the European Union as decisions should no longer be taken behind closed doors on the basis of a lowest-common-denominator intergovernmental bargain.
- The importance of complete transparency in the legislative process as an important step towards bringing the Union closer to its citizens.

Profoundly concerned by:
- The failure to reach an agreement on the adoption of a European Constitution in Brussels in December and considers this as a setback for European democracy.
- The way heads of state and government undid many elements of the historic bargain struck by the Convention, even before the summit failed.
- The strong appeal to national interests by many states at the Brussels summit and a stubbornness to not compromise for the sake of the greater good in Europe.
- The absence of enough political will to reform the imbalanced and complex Nice voting system which could lead to decision-making paralysis in an EU of 25 or more states.
- The lack of political vision among the leading political figures in Europe.

Rejects:
- All statements from European politicians claiming that a multi-speed Europe is the only answer to the failure of Brussels, as the main division – on voting rights – concerns all member states in all areas in which the EU is already competent.
- Claims that the Treaty of Nice might serve as an efficient legal basis.
- All the proposals for institutional changes that would seriously endanger the unity of the EU.

Therefore calls for:
- Adoption of the draft Constitution proposed by the Convention in its original form as soon as possible, and before the European Parliament elections, followed by swift and effective ratification in all member states without allowing any veto to block the entering into force of the Constitution.
- Initiatives from the Irish Presidency, from the European Parliament, the European Commission and the national Parliaments, to make sure that the Constitution is adopted before the European Elections.
- The next European Council to take place at least one week before the European Parliament Elections.
- The widest possible debate about the Constitution as part of the campaigns for the European Parliament elections.
- Improvements to the Constitution after its ratification, by a true Constitutional Convention, with a clear mandate to transform the Constitution into a truly federal and democratic European Constitution and proceeding by qualified majority voting.

Therefore, JEF shall campaign for:
- the European Parliament, the European Commission, the national parliaments, the political parties in Europe and the civil society (using in particular the popular initiative Procedure, art. 46) to urge all national governments to call a second Convention.
- A future Convention aims to achieve a two chamber parliament, including the European Parliament as the Chamber of the Citizens (lower house) and the Council of Ministers as a Chamber of the States, together responsible for all legislative decisions of the Union, and develop the European Commission into a true government of the European Union and introduce qualified majority voting for revisions to the Constitution.

Therefore calls on all JEF sections:
- To use the annexed appeal for adoption of the Constitution in their activities from now until the European elections especially during JEF’s Europe Week campaigns in the context of the campaign ‘Give Europe A Face’ to apply pressure to achieve the successful adoption of the Constitution.
- To put pressure on the candidates for the European Parliament elections to express their opinion on the Constitution in order to place the debate on the future of the EU at the core of the elections campaign.
- To promote a debate inside their national parliaments on the adoption of the Constitution.

APPEAL TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND EUROPEAN LEADERS

EUROPE NEEDS A CONSTITUTION NOW!

We, the Citizens of Europe,

Acknowledging

- that the Intergovernmental Conference which took place in Brussels on 12.-13. December 2003, failed to meet the citizens’ crucial demand – to deliver the first European Constitution.
- that the EU of 25 member states can only work if it is democratic, transparent and efficient

Alarmed
- by a possible paralysis that could emerge after the European Union is enlarged to include 25 member states, if the European Constitution is not adopted;
- by the lack of a true European government provided with the necessary powers to guarantee an effective governance of the Union and solutions to crucial challenges that Europe is facing;
- by a possible further decrease in the participation of the citizens to the European elections in June 2004
- by the inability of Europe to speak with one voice in the world, to contribute to the construction of a new world order founded on peace, international justice, security and sustainable development;
ask

the European Parliament and the national Parliaments

- to approve at once the draft European Constitution and put pressure on the national governments to do the same;

the European Commission

- to defend the best interest of the Union and its citizens by promoting the first European Constitution;

the European leaders

- to have a more visionary perception on the future of the European Union and adopt the Draft Constitution without allowing national vetos to delay this adoption.

To read all policy resolution of Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe), visit:
http://www.jef-europe.net/policies/index.html