Dear Europeans,

We are coming to the end of a historic week. Tonight, by completing the enlargement negotiations, the heads of states will reunite a big part of the European continent. At the same time there have been several important contributions within the convention. The European Commission has put forward their vision of the institutional structre of the future European Union: the first supranational democracy in the world.

In addition to the official contribution, the Commission also published a proposal for a European Constitution. This paper provoked a lot of discussions within and outside the convention. The document does not only propose to strengthen the community method, but also brings up the question of the ratification of the Constitution.

"[…]I would like to quote the words of someone who played a leading role in those early days when the first foundations of the European project were being laid. Listen to what Jean Monnet said about his famous method:
"I never thought we could change human nature. But by changing the context in which people live, by giving them the same rules and the same democratic institutions, we can succeed in changing the way they behave towards each other. Within the Community, Europeans are learning to live together as one and the same people. We are not merging States, we are uniting human beings."
So in all humility I propose we heed that intuition of Jean Monnet's and adapt it to the great challenges of tomorrow. To unite all Europe's people we must create harmony between the States.

"The message I gave the Convention on behalf of the whole Commission was simple: "All the institutions here represented have in fact the duty to call themselves into question." And of course I meant the Commission too."

"We need to simplify the way in which Europe's institutions work and make them more effective. The status quo is not an option, even less so in view of enlargement. National leaders should act on their commitment to make Europe a super-power : speaking with one voice is essential to defend Europe's social model in a globalised world and to promote our values. "

[Commission President Romano Prodi on different ocasions on the 5th December 2002.]

1. What is your general impression of the work of the Convention so far?

The progress is better than expected. Consensus emerged on some points that were not expected, eg the acceptance to have a Constitution of the EU.

2. What are your five most important points to be included in the European Constitution?

It is important to advance on the way to a Political Union. The institutional triangle should be strengthened in all its elements. From the EP point of view the enhancement of the Community method by general co decision of the EP, except in specifically limited cases is essential.The EP should have full budgetary control, the distinction between obligatory and non obligatory expenses should be abolished.

For the European Union

Peace, Freedom, Solidarity

Communication of the Commission on the Institutional Architecture

The number of Member States will virtually double on 1 May 2004. The point of this process is to extend to our neighbours in Europe the benefits of peace, solidarity and economic development which we enjoy today, by welcoming them into an appropriate institutional framework, which is the key to the success of the European project.

The purpose of the Commission's Communication of 22 May last 1 was to focus thought on the European Union's objectives and tasks, prior to any discussion on institutions. The Convention is currently examining the preliminary findings of its working groups and is discussing the structure of the future constitutional treaty. The Commission now wishes to contribute to the discussions by setting out the changes to the institutional framework it considers necessary to carry forward the European project.

INTRODUCTION

When the Working Group began its deliberations, one thing was certain: nothing is more complicated than simplification. The simplification of the Union's instruments and procedures, as sought by the Convention, is an operation with considerable repercussions and a direct bearing on the level of democracy of our Institutions.

The Union's system as we know it is not very clear or comprehensible to its citizens. However, ability to criticise the system is a key factor of democracy. Citizens must be able to understand the system so that they can identify its problems, criticise it, and ultimately control it.

INTRODUCTION

If the European Union is to win the maximum support of its citizens, it must show that it can deliver concrete results on issues that really matter. The Convention will be deemed to be a success if it is seen to have put in place means to ensure that freedom can be enjoyed in conditions of security and justice is accessible to all. People have the right to expect the Union to address the threat to their freedom and legal rights posed by terrorism and serious crime. The battle against crime is an area in which the European Union can demonstrate its relevance to its citizens in the most visible way.
There are a number of areas such as cross-border crime, asylum policy or control of the Union’s external borders which cannot be dealt with effectively by States acting on their own, nor is defence against the new terrorism threats compatible with autonomous action at national level.
Public concern has considerably heightened following the events of 11 September 2001 and the emergence of more recent threats arising from international terrorism.

Since the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, the establishment of a coherent area of freedom, security and justice has formed one of the key objectives of the European Union, spelt out in an ambitious political agenda set by the European Council of Tampere of 1999 and further developed in the Treaty of Nice (notably by the inclusion of Eurojust) which is about to enter into force. In this context, it is important to make clear that the three components - freedom, security and justice - go hand-in-hand and are of equal importance. This principle should guide the Union policy in this area.

To read this contribution see: (only in German and French)

http://european-convention.eu.int/docs/wd10/5705.pdf (German)

http://european-convention.eu.int/docs/wd10/5711.pdf (French)

To read the report see:

http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/02/cv00/00450en2.pdf

Belgium, Luxemburg and Netherlands have published a joined memorandum for the Convention: "A balanced institutional framework for an enlarged, more effective and more transparent Union"

To read the memorandum see:
http://www.diplobel.fgov.be/Press/Home/homedetails.asp?ID=400

On Johannes Voggenhuber's Convention Homepage there is an interesting collection of the positions of the member states on the Convention.

Take a look at it on:
http://europakonvent.info/europakonvent/konvent/kat/show.php3?nodeid=2&id=2&_language=de&elem_start=11#137

The Young European Federalists (JEF) welcome the Commission's second position on the future European Constitution. Now is the right moment to make detailed proposals on how a supranational democracy on the European Continent should work. To propose a structure based on the twin legitimacy of the citizens and the states was an essential step of the Commission.

"The European Commission is right to propose putting an end to the unanimity rule in the Council." stated Alison Weston, President of JEF Europe.

At an international youth meeting in Brussels last weekend, Young Europeans from 31 countries reiterated their support for a federal European Constitution. More than 200 young people from across the European continent met as part of the project on the Convention “Europe: A Generation Ahead”, organised by the Young European Federalists.

Working in small groups on the basis of the Convention’s texts, the young people produced ambitious and visionary demands for a diverse and united Union, close to the citizens, and able to meet the challenges facing Europe in the future.

Im Rahmen der Veranstaltungsreihe der JEF NRW zum EU-Konvent hat die JEF Hochschulgruppe Aachen-Euregio am Mittwoch, den 04.12.2002, zu einer Diskussionsveranstaltung mit dem Titel 'Konvent - Rückt die EU zusammen?' eingeladen. Als Referent stand der Landesvorsitzende der JEF NRW & derzeitige JEF Bundesausschussvorsitzende Sancho Kleine zur Verfügung.

Vor zwanzig JEF-Mitgliedern und interessierten Studierenden der RWTH Aachen erläuterte Sancho Kleine die Entscheidung für die Einsetzung des Konvents, dessen Besetzung und dessen Arbeitsauftrages. Dabei machte er deutlich, daß der Konvent gerade im Hinblick auf die anstehende EU-Erweiterung ein wichtiger Schritt zur Gestaltung der zukünftigen Europäischen Union ist. Hier wurde dann auch für die Beteiligung an dem öffentlichen Diskussionsprozess geworben. Noch nie hatten die Bürger der EU so viele Möglichkeiten sich an einem Entscheidungsprozess einzubringen.

The European Youth Forum adopted in the General Assembly in Malta the resolution "On building a European Union for and with young people".

You can read it here:
http://www.youthforum-org.ae.psiweb.com/publications/reports/0798-02-e%20FINAL.pdf

The International European Movement handed over their contribution to the convention to Giscard s'Estaing last week.

To read the document see:
http://www.constitutional-convention.net/archives/Document_officielle_Angl.pdf

A group of Experts around Prodi, Barnier and Vitorino have prepared a detailed and quite interesting proposal for a European Constitution, which will most likely play an important role in the future discussions in the Convention.

To read the paper see: http://www.europa.eu.int/futurum/documents/offtext/const051202_en.pdf

INTRODUCTION

This informal discussion paper is based on

- the existing acquis communautaire;
- the deliberations of the Convention Working Groups and in the Convention plenary sessions;
- the European Parliament Resolution based on the Report by Alain Lamassoure on the division of competences between the European Union and the Member States;
- the EPP document "A Constitution for a Strong Europe", as adopted at the EPP Congress in Estoril on 18 October 2002;
- the deliberations of the EPP Convention Group study days in Frascati on 8-10 November 2002;
- numerous comments received from Convention members and academics.