Dear Europeans,

We are getting closer to a finalized European Constitution. Yesterday and today the Convention members have discussed more than 1000 amendments to the first 16 paragraphs of the future Constitution. Today new articles will be presented, which again will lead to numerous amendments. While the work of the Convention is getting more concrete, the differences between the Convention members grow. Whereas the majority of the Convention members want to include the Charter at the beginning of the Convention and want to keep the expression "federal" in the Constitution, a number of members strongly object to these proposals.

"In this international crisis Europeans should elaborate a common action. The emergence of a common European awareness has to be made concrete through common European institutions."

[Valéry Giscard d'Estaing at a Congress of the International European Movement in Athens].

JEF: You are representative of the German Bundestag at the Constitutional Convention. How would you comment on the work of the Convention so far?

Meyer: I am optimistic, that we will produce a complete draft constitution until mid June. But I’m a bit irritated as well, that we lost a lot of time especially last year during the general debate, and now we are slowly running out of time. This must be balanced now by a shorter sequence of meetings and strong engagement of all delegates in the finish.

To find a summary of the ammendments to the first 16 articles, see: http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/03/cv00/cv00574en03.pdf

To see all 1078 ammendments see: http://european-convention.eu.int/amendemTrait.asp?lang=EN

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - "They're pouring in," admits the spokesperson for the Convention's steering committee, the presidium. The 13-member body putting together the articles for a future EU constitution has been inundated with over 1000 amendments to the first 16 draft articles.

Presented to Convention members two weeks ago, delegates are continuing to submit proposals for changes even after the deadline of last Monday evening.

To read the contribution see: http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/03/cv00/cv00566en03.pdf

To read the contribution see: http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/03/cv00/cv00566en03.pdf

CONTRIBUTION OF PERVENCHE BERES A LA CONVENTION EUROPEENNE - QUELLE CITOYENNETE POUR L'UNION

Février 2003

Notre Convention a pour mission de préparer la rédaction d'une "constitution pour les citoyens européens" selon les termes de son mandat délivré par le Conseil européen de Laeken. Nous devons donc d'abord définir la notion de citoyenneté européenne.
Cette question doit être envisagée indépendamment du lien traditionnel qui unit la nationalité et la citoyenneté : jusqu'ici, la seconde procède de la première. Pourtant, à l'échelle de l'Union, la citoyenneté n'est pas née d'une nation, ni d'une révolution. Au contraire, l'ouverture de droits européens à l'adresse des femmes et des hommes qui peuplent son territoire est un processus progressif, inscrit dans le long-terme, conforme au rythme de l'ouverture des consciences et de l'enracinement de l'espace public.

Statement At The European Movement International Conference “Building Awareness for Europe”, (Athens 20/02/2003)

The Convention’s President said that the following group of the Constitution’s articles would be published in the following days. As for the transparency of decisions, he reminded his audience that all the Convention documents are in the EU website and all contributions are published. Basic aim of the Convention is the improvement of institutions. In order to achieve this, we need strong political will at European level. As to the question of how much the Convention can affect the Intergovernmental Conference, Mr. d’ Estaing characterized the work of the Convention as positive, since it has unanimously accepted the idea of a Constitution. The new Constitution will replace the old Treaties and will include the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Convention will submit a plan, which will be as comprehensive as possible.

February 2003

Dear member of the Convention,

Subject: A blueprint of 10 model articles on European citizenship

ECAS launched a campaign on 1 October 2002 together with the ENAR (European network against racism) and the (YFJ) European Youth forum urging the Convention to have a full debate on citizenship. We hope that sufficient time will be devoted to an issue which ought to be central to any constitution-making for Europe.

We have made proposals to develop a more visible and inclusive European citizenship. These are formulated in the attached model draft for European citizenship in a European Constitution.

This 10 article blueprint attempts to answer three questions:

Intergroup 'European Constitution' within the Convention, meeting on the 7th of February 2003 in Brussels:
The meeting was convened in order to discuss the common proposal to the Convention by Alain LAMASSOURE and Josef ZIELNIECE on institutional arrangements. On the initiative of the Intergroup European Federal Constitution within the Convention this contribution has now already been signed by Convention Members and Alternates from the European Parliament, from National Parliaments and Governments of the Member states and the accession candidate countries, as well as by Observers from the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee and from the Social Partners. As you will read hereafter the main political groups (EPP, PES, ELDR and GREENS) are also represented among the first signatories. The aim of the contribution is to exert collective pressure and influence on the work of the Convention and, in particular, the Praesidium.

Statement At The European Movement International Conference “Building Awareness for Europe”, (Athens 20/02/2003)

C. Simitis: The Prime Minister of Greece underlined the will of the Greek Presidency to help the Convention so that it accomplishes its work on time. He presented the following aims of the Greek Presidency in relation with the European Constitution:

- Enhance the democratic basis of the Union, so that it comes closer to its citizens. The procedures should be simplified so that the Union becomes more transparent.

- Increase the Union’s effectiveness, especially after enlargement.

- Boost the social aspect of the Union, through redistributive policies and new targets, regarding employment and citizens’ everyday problems.

- Improve the Union’s role, with a more meaningful foreign and security policy.

Dear President,

According to press reports, you have reservations about the proposal that the European Parliament should elect the President of the Commission, because you fear that this would politicise the Commission and lead to a Commission that is subservient to a particular political majority in the European Parliament.

President of Youth Convention calls on European Convention to include
Youth Article in EU Constitution (EN)

Addressing the European Convention's plenary on the debate on Social Europe, Giacomo Filibeck, President of the Youth Convention, called on the Convention's Presidium to consolidate EU youth policies by including a clear article on youth in the EU Constitution. After thanking the Presidium for giving him the opportunity to speak, Giacomo Filibeck assured the members of the Convention that "young people will only recognise themselves in the European project if they feel that Europe addresses their needs and hopes."

Finnish National Youth Convention
21. - 22.11.2002

Final document

Prologue

This final document is brought together from the discussions held in the Finnish National Youth Convention. The six entities of the document are the result of the Youth Convention's workshop discussions. After the discussion the document has been considered by all members of the Youth Convention in a general assembly, during which additions could be made to the document in hand. All supported additions made during the Youth Convention have been included in this final document.

[salt&pepper] The Convention can now begin

EUOBSERVER / SALT&PEPPER - More than 1,000 amendments to the first 16 articles of the draft Constitutional Treaty elaborated by the Presidium have been presented. However, what to some might seem a great exercise in democracy is to us a matter of serious concern. How many European citizens are familiar with the content of these articles? How many national parliaments have debated them? How many parties, movements or associations have contributed to the drafting of these amendments?

Dear Members of the Youth Convention,

as you might already be informed about, Convention Members Michel Barnier and Olivier Duhamel initiated a project to raise the interest of teenagers in the debate of the future of Europe. Entitled 'Spring Day of Europe', this event is to be organised on 21 March by secondary schools across Europe. So far, 1300 schools have enrolled at the Spring Day website that has been established by the European Schoolnet (EUN) (http://www.eun.org/). A variety of events, ranging from Internet discussions to meetings with Convention members will take place to involve pupils of European schools in the work of the Convention.

As this initiative brings the debate you participated to this July in Brussels back to the grassroots, we invite you to undertake action to stimulate this in your own communities. We hope you will take part in this event in a personal and direct manner, getting in touch with your school and going (back) to your school to discuss the issues that we addressed during the Youth Convention. Please consult the enclosed document for more information.

Yours sincerely,

Giacomo Filibeck

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, 28th February 2003

A FEDERAL UNION FOR THE YOUNG CITIZENS

In yesterday's Convention debate on the first articles of the future
Constitution, a majority of the Convention members spoke in favour of a
federal European Union. The omission of the word 'federal' would be
disappointing, especially for the young. In the final report of the
European Youth Convention in July 2002, young citizens from all over Europe
called for a 'European Federal Constitution'.

Alison Weston, President of the Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe)
said: "Federal elements in the European Union, such as the Euro, are already
a reality. The task of the Convention is to establish a Constitution which
gives the EU the democratic basis it has been lacking until now."

In November 2002 JEF Europe started the new project on the Future of Europe “Europe! – A Generation Ahead”. Apart from a large-scale meeting in Brussels in the end of November 2002, over 23 national debates have already taken place in the framework of this project.

For the next month many events are planned:

07-09 March, Germany, Berlin, “A Federal Future for Europe?”, JEF-Germany, Altiero Spinelli Insitute and JEF-Italy, International weekend seminar, info: http://www.jef.de

07-10 March, Latvia, Riga, Latvian National Youth Convention, info: info@jef-europe.net

15-16 March, Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad, “A Generation Ahead”, seminar on the Future of Europe, European Movement Bulgaria, info: eym@scas.acad.bg

24-30 March, Czech Rep., Prague, "Citizenship and Identity in Europe – key concepts for European integration", JEF Europe International Seminar and Federal Committee, mailto:info@jef-europe.net

EUROPE! A Generation Ahead

Seminar/discussion at Edinburgh University 23 of January, 7 pm

Is Federalism inevitable in an enlarged Europe?

This was the first in a series of evening seminars/discussions at Edinburgh University under the framework of “Europe! A Generation Ahead”. After discussions with the Young European Movement University Society, it was concluded that the idea of Federalism, with its critique of the present system and its concrete suggestion on a reform of the EU, would be a good starting point for getting the debate about the future of Europe out among the students.

Jan Seifert, president of JEF Germany agreed to come and talk about the idea of Federalism. Not only having an long past of engagement in the European federal movement, but also coming from the EU’s largest federal state made Jan Seifert an excellent speaker for the topic.

An introductory speech was held by Åsa Gunvén, organiser for Europe A Generation Ahead in Scotland, about the Convention, its composition, work and aims. Also a brief background of the causes that made the governments create a Convention to reform the EU, in Leaken was given. Strong emphasis was made on the importance of the debate reaching out to civil society, and especially the young that are the ones to live in the future EU.

Convention : Is “Equality” irrelevant in the Future Europe ?

ECOSY Presidium Statement / Press release, 10th February 2003

Last week the Convention entered in a new phase with the presentation of the first sixteen draft articles of the Constitutional Treaty and the discussion in plenary of the report of the “Social Europe” Working group.

From the beginning, the Convention on the Future of Europe (CFE) has aimed to bring Europe closer to its citizens. For the Europeans Young Socialists, the only way to succeed in this goal is to address the needs and act in the interest of the people.
Therefore, ECOSY welcomes the references to Full employment; Social Justice; sustainable development; economic and social cohesion and environmental and social protection as Union Objectives in Article 3.

Press Release

21 February 2003

International conference, Athens 20-21 February 2003
Contribution to the Convention on the Future of Europe

Giscard D’Estaing: The existing strong European awareness should be the basis of the European constitution:
Disappointment at the division of heads of governments in current Iraqi crisis

“A European awareness already exists and should become the basis on which we have to build the Constitution and the institutions of the European Union”. Speaking at the international conference of the European Movement in Athens, the President of the European Convention expressed his disappointment at the division of European heads of governments in the current Iraqi crisis. “If today the European citizens would be divided as their governments – he said – we could not hope to progress very far”.

FEDERALIST VOICE, the network of 13 European organisations in favour of a European Federal Constitution, examined the Draft of Articles 1 to 16 to the Constitutional Treaty proposed by the Praesidium of the European Convention which is on the agenda of the plenary session of the European Convention on 27-28 February.

e-Vote: Vote for the EU YOU Want, evote.eu2003.gr

Be a part of history…again!

e-Vote is a new and exciting, bold experiment to bring e-democracy to Europe at this historic time of European Union expansion.

The Presidency of the EU rotates among member countries every six months and "e-Vote: Vote for the EU YOU Want" is a part of the current Greek Presidency's efforts to increase citizens' participation in the decision-making process with a variety of innovative, interactive, e-democracy projects.

Throughout the Greek Presidency, we will use the Internet and new technology to give citizens of the EU and people worldwide a voice and a way to connect with political leaders and express their ideas and opinions and more.

Through the Greek Presidency web site http://www.evote.eu2003.gr, anyone from the EU or world wide will be able to:

- Learn more about current EU issues
- Vote and express your opinion on many important issues and questions
- Compare your opinions and concerns with people in other EU countries
- Send ideas, comments and questions to all the and Prime Ministers, Presidents, and EU Commissioners of the 15 EU countries
- Provide ideas and suggestions for key official EU meetings and events
- See vote results provided in real time on the e-Vote website
- And much, much more!

So, be a part of history again!

e-Vote: Vote for the EU YOU Want

To vote, see: http://freemailng0405.web.de/jump.htm?goto=http://evote.eu2003.gr/

SIXIÈME POSITION PRÉSENTÉE À LA CONVENTION EUROPÉENNE

Il n`y a pas d`avenir pour l`Europe sans garantie effective des droits fondamentaux
et des libertés fondamentales pour les femmes et les hommes.
******

L’AFEM salue l’avant-projet de Traité constitutionnel du Présidium de la Convention, la Communication de la Commission du 4.12.2002 et l’Étude de faisabilité qui explicite celle-ci, comme bases de débat très utiles. L’AFEM résume ses positions précédentes quant à certaines matières:

I. OBSERVATIONS GÉNÉRALES
1. Une Constitution digne de ce nom est surtout une garantie effective des droits fondamentaux des femmes et des hommes, y compris leurs droits sociaux, – fondements de l’Union et valeurs essentielles qui définissent notre identité européenne, voire la raison d`être de l’Union. Cela doit être la mission primordiale de l’Union, si elle veut répondre aux attentes de ses citoyens et citoyennes et être «un phare pour l`avenir du monde» comme le proclame la Déclaration de Laeken. Dans ce but, la Constitution doit «maintenir intégralement l’acquis communautaire et le développer» (art. 2§5, 3§1 TUE).

Opinion about the debates of the Convention

On the debates and the contributions to the works of the Convention, The European Association of the Elected representatives from Mountain Areas (AEM) notices that the question of territorial diversity is clearly withdrawn in comparison to other topics, and that the specifics of the mountain areas have not been considered at all.

The discussions have mainly been focused on subjects related to the Institutions and foreign relations, leaving behind the debate on the role of the local and regional authorities.
By excluding a work group specific to the local and regional aspects of European governance, the organization of the debates may have buried the issues of territorial cohesion completely, where it not for the contact group “Regional and local authorities” that has partially revived it.