Dear Europeans,

In these weeks the Convention tackles two crucial issues in the debate on the Future of Europe: the involvement of civil society, and the question of justice and home affairs. The heated debates on issues such as terrorism or organised crime at last weeks’ Convention meeting mirrors precisely the dilemma in the current European debate. On the one hand almost everybody agrees that the European institutions need to have more power in certain policy fields to face challenges such as security threats, globalisation or economic and social issues. When it then comes to the question of reforming the Union’s institutional structures to implement these policies effectively, too many are still unwilling to accept that national powers can never successfully meet such European challenges. Justice and home affairs will be discussed further in the Convention’s working groups as well as during the Seville European Council in June.

What do you think of the Convention process in general?

I am not actually in the Convention, I am watching it from outside. It has taken some time to get all the procedures in order, but now they are really discussing important things. It is a success that we have the Convention per se, because it shows that discussion is possible, that it is possible to discuss these things with openness and transparency. It is creating a broader interest and discussion. I visit schools every Friday, I have visited 150 schools during this mandate. Most people have actually heard of the Convention and they ask me about it. So this is a success.

It is a little bit early to be able to judge the results yet, they have only had a few meetings and the first two or three were mostly procedural, but I am still very positive. They are discussing important things. I am a little bit critical about the way they are consulting with the youth organisations and with civil society, there has not been too much of that yet.

Swedish Liberal Party

Stockholm 8 January 2002

Preamble

We, the Peoples of Europe,

- mindful of our common history and shared experiences of war and conflicts, unification and cooperation;
- confirming the importance of international human rights;
- mindful of our cultural and linguistic heritage and the different identities and traditions of the Member States on local, regional and national level;
- being convinced that cooperation over national borders is a driving force for peace, freedom and prosperity;
- wishing to establish a government based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law;
- being convinced that a European federation is the best way to unite a democratic and open society with efficiency in political action and economic and societal development on the European continent;
- therefore wishing to establish a European Union;
- wanting this Union to be based on universal values such as human dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity;
- being firmly decided to strengthen the continued integration of our economies;
- being convinced of the important role of the European Union in the struggle for global justice and democracy;
- wishing to clarify the goals and the principles of the European Union for all its citizens;

*** What is a constitution?

And what distinguishes the constitution one can or would like to envisage for the Union from the Treaty which, since the establishment of the European Communities, has been the basis for the development of the politico-institutional system that at present characterises the European Union?

The Treaty is based on the various agreements between Member States negotiated by several intergovernmental conferences and ratified by the national parliaments since the 1950s. It is therefore a fact of international law. The methods of diplomacy were adhered to when the Treaty was negotiated and will apply as it is further developed. In this process the Member States are and remain formally sovereign, even though in the Treaty itself they declare their readiness to accept a quite far-reaching surrender of sovereignty in an increasing number of policy areas.

After the detailed mandates of the Working groups in the Convention were made public before the last session, the members of the Convention chose in which working group they would like to participate. It seems that some working groups were more appealing than others, as some Convention members have been awarded their second choice only.

Nonetheless, the fight around the working groups concerns less their composition than their mandate. Some Convention members and analysts indeed argue that the questions put forward reflect only parts of the whole spectrum of issues which are crucial in the debate on the Future of Europe. As most of the working groups have met or will meet before the end of June, there is almost no doubt that this question will be tackled in their respective meetings, and hopefully resolved. A comprehensive agenda for the working groups is a prerequisite for a successful outcome of their work. The first concrete proposals are expected at the beginning of September. By then, the working groups should be presenting to the Convention juridical texts, with a view to these becoming legally binding. The Convention has no other mandate than to draft the future European Constitution.

The Convention has got off to a promising start. However, Jo Leinen believes that additional efforts are required to make sure that its agenda reflects that of Europe's people, addressing most notably the role of the Union as an area of freedom and security and as a global player. The Working Groups that have been proposed so far inadequately cover these questions.

Commentary by Jo Leinen and Justus Schönlau

Organisations representing civil society are invited to participate in the meeting of the European Convention on 24 and 25 June and to meet its members.

To carry out its mission successfully, the Convention considers it of the outmost importance to listen to representatives of civil society and to take into account their opinions and views. Associations representing various sectors of civil society should reflect in front of the Convention members the expectations and demands of the European society with regard to the future shape of Europe, its organisation and the way the European Union works.

This week, 8 Contact groups met in order to prepare the session of 24-25.06. They are intended to facilitate discussions between the European Convention and organisations representing civil society. They will give the organisations which have registered to take part the opportunity to express their various viewpoints, to take part in debates and to make contact with the members of the Praesidium of the European Convention. They will also provide an opportunity to prepare the statements to be made by representatives of civil society during the plenary session of the Convention.

Each group is chaired by one member of the Presidium. Convention members have been encouraged by the President to attend these meetings.

At the end of each meeting, rapporteurs will be appointed by the participants to speak on their behalf at the Convention plenary.

PLENARY SESSION OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON 24 AND 25 JUNE

The plenary session will be held in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament, rue Wiertz, Brussels.

Session times :

June 24 : 14.30 - 20.30
June 25 : 09.30 - 13.00

Dear Members of the Organised Civil Society,

On 4 June 2002, the Citizens' Assembly 2004, which brought together the great majority of European NGO networks during the December 2001 Laeken Summit, held its Second Co-ordination Meeting on the 24-25 June 2002 European Convention's hearings of the organised civil society.

The organisations represented were: AEGEE Europe, AGORA, ATD-Quart Monde, ATTAC, CELSIG, COFACE, Crocodile Club, EFAH, EBLUL/BELMR, EPHH, Europa Nostra, European Environmental Bureau, FAI-ACLI, Foundation for Solidarity and Voluntary Work of the Valencian Community, Initiative and Referendum Institute Europe, International European Movement, OCIPE, Permanent Forum of Civil Society, Polish NGO Office, Young European Federalists, New Life, VIVANT, World Mothers' Movement.

Le Groupe de contact «régions et collectivités locales », qui s’est réuni le 10 juin 2002 dans la Salle de presse du Conseil de l'Union, avait pour mission de débattre des thèmes transversaux liés à la Convention européenne, ainsi que de nommer les rapporteurs de la société civile et d’en préparer les prises de parole au cours de l’audition que la Convention fera les 24 et 25 juin 2002.

Le Forum permanent de la société civile a pu se rendre compte que ladite réunion avait été organisée presque exclusivement avec des organisations de régions européennes représentants des élus (et très peu d'élues) régionaux et locaux. Cependant, ces organisations régionales et locales, déjà représentées à la Convention notamment par le Comité des Régions, ne représentent pas la société civile européenne, qui est regroupée au sein d'associations sociales, environnementales, culturelles, régionales, locales, etc.

Die Jungen Europäischen Föderalisten Deutschland fassen folgenden Beschluß zum laufenden europäischen Verfassungsprozeß:

Nach den schlechten Ergebnissen des Europäischen Rats in Nizza, der ein letztes Mal bewiesen hat, daß das nationale Geschachere auf der Regierungskonferenz klassischen Typs sogar ein Rückschritt für die europäische Integration sein kann, haben auch die Staaten eingesehen, daß es jene national-gesteuerten Konferenzen in dieser Form nicht mehr länger geben darf.

Auf ihrem EU-Gipfel in Laeken haben sie daher im vergangenen Dezember erfreulicherweise den von uns schon seit langem geforderten Konvent zur Vorbereitung der nächsten Vertragsrevision beschlossen. Dieser stellt in seiner Zusammensetzung aus indirekt gewählten Abgeordneten und Exekutivvertretern einen erheblichen Fortschritt zu den diplomatischen Geheimkonferenzen alter Tage dar und repräsentiert die künftige Union der Bürger und der Staaten bereits im Ansatz repräsentiert.

The Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) presents a vision for the future of Europe that looks forward without redoing the faults of the past. The debate on the future of Europe must be a turning point: currently the EU is not capable of facing the challenges of the future. For our generation, it is crucial that the debate about the future of Europe leads to a good result because our future will be depending on it.

On a continent so used to war, the European project was founded on the idea of peace and stability maintained through integration and co-operation. The main mission now of the European Union is to combat global problems like pollution and poverty. In the era of globalisation, the European level is the most efficient available structure to solve the current problems. There is a need for controlling the globalisation process to give it an ecological and a social dimension. For us, EU does not only mean Economic Union but also a Union based on solidarity and sustainability.

09. Juni 2002, Dortmund

Die Grüne Jugend fasst folgenden Beschluss zum laufenden europäischen Verfassungsprozess:
Nach den schlechten Ergebnissen des Europäischen Rats in Nizza, auf welchem nationales Geschachere dringend notwendige Reformen blockiert hat, haben auch die Staaten eingesehen, dass von nationalstaatlichen Interessen gesteuerte Konferenzen keine Visionen für die Zukunft Europas entwickeln können.

Auf ihrem EU-Gipfel in Laeken haben die Staats- und Regierungschefs daher im vergangenen Dezember erfreulicherweise den seit langem geforderten Europäischen Konvent zur Vorbereitung der nächsten Vertragsrevision beschlossen. Dieser stellt in seiner Zusammensetzung aus gewählten Abgeordneten und ExekutivvertreterInnen in unseren Augen einen erheblichen Fortschritt zu den diplomatischen Geheimkonferenzen alter Tage dar. Der Konvent ist ein erster Schritt zur künftigen Union der BürgerInnen und der Staaten.

Introduction:

The Convention on the Future of Europe represents an important initiative for young trade unionists across Europe, which is aimed at defining a social and democratic Europe. ETUC Youth very much hopes that through this contribution our voice will be heard and attention will be paid to the keen interest young people are displaying towards their future.

What young people want in an ideal Europe

Peace, stability, an end to poverty, decent jobs, access to housing, transport, health and education, a society free from discrimination racism + xenophobia, freedom, justice, democracy and transparency, a voice which is heard. We want a Europe where we can live and work, where we can move about freely, where we can breathe fresh air, where we feel safe and secure, where diversity is welcome and where we can realise our dreams and our hopes. We want a Europe where young people are empowered and active, have financial independence and are socially secure.

How much do you know about your Rights and Responsibilities at European level? On a scale of 1 to 10, the average European citizen attains a lowly 4.42 rating concerning self – perceived knowledge of the European Union. A score like that would inhibit your success in an academic setting of any kind. So how is it that being poorly or inadequately informed, about the European Union and its institutions, is accepted in a modern democracy?.

An informed citizen is essential to the democratic process. In a report in EUROBAROMETER 51 reference is made to a special survey on reasons why people decide not to vote "The most widely affirmed reason is not feeling well enough informed to go and vote (61%), followed by not having sufficient knowledge about the role, the importance and the power of the European Parliament (59%)". It is as if people are saying, "As I am not sufficiently informed, I do not feel able to vote in European elections"

Children Excluded From The Debates On The Future Of Europe

The Convention on the future of the EU enters its 3rd plenary session (23-24 May). The working groups and a so-called “Youth” Convention have been set up, but these exclude children.
THE EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S NETWORK, EURONET, believes it is time to tackle the issue of the “invisibility” of more than 90 million European citizens, its children, in the EU legal texts. The convention should propose inclusion in the revised EU treaty the principle of the best interests of the child. EURONET has submitted to the members of the European Convention its proposal to include an article on children’s rights in the next EU Treaty.
Diana Sutton, Save the Children European officer, said “Animals are mentioned in the EU Treaty, but children are not – there is no reference to promoting children’s best interests in relevant EU policy, and legislation. Coupled with this, children have been excluded from the discussions in the Youth Convention. This is ridiculous when the UN Special Session on Children this month involved children from all parts of the world, represented at all levels. If the UN can do it, the EU can certainly do it.”