Dear Europeans,

After a long summer break, the European Convention starts again its work on
the shape of our future Europe. Again, the Convention Bulletin will keep you
updated about the work of the Convention. Before we return to our
twice-monthly schedule, we would like to summarize in this special edition
the first phase of the Convention (the listening phase). You will find a
short overview on the different issues which have been tackled in the
Convention so far, including some of the criticisms which have been raised
concerning its work. Until now, Convention members have failed to tackle the
most controversial topics, and we have not yet seen compromise proposals
which can bring together the different ideas on the future institutional
framework of the EU. In the next weeks and months it will be up to Valéry
Giscard d’Estaing and the Presidium to present a concrete and ambitious text
for the future European Constitution. Only with such a concrete document
will the Convention members be able to find solutions to the questions
raised in the Laeken Declaration. Only if the Convention is able to succeed
with its task in time, will the EU be able successfully to complete
enlargement, develop into a democratic and effective political union, and be
able to manage the challenges it faces on the international scene.

“We can indeed dream of Europe, and persuade others to share that dream!
If we were to fail, each country would return to the free trade system. None
of us – not even the largest of us – would have the power to take on the
giants of this world. We would then remain locked in on ourselves, grimly
analysing the causes of our decline and fall. Our call for enthusiasm goes
out to other Europeans, but first and foremost to ourselves. We must have a
passionate interest in the success of our task if we are to engage and
persuade others. It is a task modest in form but immense in content, for if
it succeeds in accordance with our mandate, it will light up the future of
Europe.”

[Valéry Giscard d’Estaing at the opening of the constitutional Convention,
Brussels, 28.02.2002.]

Many ideas but no concrete conclusions

At the end of the first phase of the Convention work, the “Listening-Phase”,
it is time for a first mid-term result. After the first seven Convention
sessions, it is possible to see a consensus emerging in a limited number of
areas, but there is still no sign of what answer the Convention will give to
the fundamental question of the institutional arrangements of the future
European Union. This article will sum up some of the key issues which have
been debated so far.

By now, there is broad agreement that the final result of the Convention
should be a legally-binding document in the form of a Constitution or a
constitutional treaty. President Giscard d’Estaing has spoken on several
occasions in favour of such a result; and other Convention members have
proposed concrete initiatives along these lines. Andrew Duff MEP has even
produced his own ideal Constitution – article by article – over the course
of the Convention’s meetings. The majority of Convention members have also
supported the principle of the Charter on Fundamental Rights being
incorporated into such a Constitution.

European youth cares about its future
The discussions of the Constitutional Convention is of major interest for
the young people of Europe. They are interested in actively participating in
designing the Europe of the future in which they have to live. Not only
European youth organisations want to be heard in the Convention process, but
also individuals. Several activities organised in the last 6 months helped
to express the will of these young people.