Dear Europeans,

The final stage of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) is fast approaching. At the summit in Brussels on 12-13 December, the negotiations will presumably be closed on all the agenda items. The European Union will then finally have a Constitution, but according to the latest rumours it might not satisfy many more than a few European leaders. This could seriously endanger the work of the Union in the future, since on the contrary the current draft produced by the Convention enjoys high legitimacy.

Last weekend the Foreign Ministers met in Naples to discuss the proposal put forward by the Italian presidency (the document is part of this Bulletin). The meeting took place at a very unfortunate time, shortly after the Council made the decision not to impose fines on Germany and France because of their breaching the rules of the Stability and Growth pact. As a result, there was plenty of room for horse-trading and defending unacceptable positions behind the closed doors of the »conclave«.

"In contrast with Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice, the current Conference did not begin with a blank slate, but with a fully fledged basic text. So it would be a mistake of historic proportions if the result of the Convention were to be unravelled or if we were to start over from scratch, as if the Convention had never taken place. "

[Mr Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of Belgium, speaking at the Humboldt Universität in Berlin, 25 November 2003]

Read the full speech on-line:
http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/sg/dialogeurope/library?l=/belgiquedoc/_EN_1.0_&a=d

The Italian Presidency presented its first proposal containing various amendments to the current draft Constitution. The proposal was prepared for the “Conclave” meeting in Naples, held between the 28th and 30th November.

Read the full proposal on-line:
http://www.ueitalia2003.it/NR/rdonlyres/559879E5-DDAF-44CC-B5E2-5D30CEDF7154/0/ConclaveDoc52.pdf

Read the Annex 1 (in French):
http://www.ueitalia2003.it/NR/rdonlyres/12BB7E47-4FDD-48B4-9650-5819065A4617/0/Conclavedoc52ADD1_eng.pdf

After the “Conclave” meeting in Naples, the Italian Presidency unveiled the proposal on defence.

To read the full proposal click (document in French):
http://www.ueitalia2003.it/NR/rdonlyres/AC523040-11D5-4B4D-9B15-94FFCC557D92/0/CIG57difesaREV1_fr.pdf

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has recently adopted, by a very large majority, an opinion setting out its expectations for the intergovernmental conference. In particular, the opinion puts forward some proposals regarding the EESC's status and its advisory role within the European institutions.

Read the full document by clicking on: http://ue.eu.int/igcpdf/en/03/cg00/cg00059.en03.pdf

Produced by the Secretariat of the Representatives of the European Parliament at the IGC

1. Working method of the meeting

The Presidency proposed to:
- deal with the amendments it suggested in Annexes 1, 2, 3 and 7 to 13 (Values, Union’s law, Charter and economic governance);
- discuss HJA at lunch;
- discuss enhanced cooperation and defence during the evening dinner;
- deal with institutions: Annexes 4 and 5 (formations and Presidency of the Council of Ministers), and 6 (Minister for Foreign Affairs), on Saturday morning.

The draft Constitution, as produced by the Convention, is finally available for orders on-line. Order your copy for free today!

Click on:

http://european-convention.eu.int/DraftTreaty.asp?lang=DE

http://european-convention.eu.int/DraftTreaty.asp?lang=EN

http://european-convention.eu.int/DraftTreaty.asp?lang=FR

http://european-convention.eu.int/DraftTreaty.asp?lang=IT

67% of citizens in the enlarged EU support the idea of a European
Constitution according to a « Flash Eurobarometer » on the Convention and on the Intergovernmental Conference. 84% consider it "essential" or "useful" to give their opinion on the future Constitution by referendum. Poll results generally show large support for various institutional proposals made by the Convention and differ little from the June 2003 results. However, only five countries out of the 25 surveyed have more than 50% of respondents who state that they have heard about the Convention, compared to ten countries out of 25 in June.

The poll leading to these results was carried out in the period from 22
September to 3 October 2003 preceding the launch of the Intergovernmental
Conference (IGC). A first poll with the same questions had been carried out following the European Council in Thessaloniki in June 2003.
Support levels for the idea of a European Constitution vary between
countries. The highest levels of support are found in Italy, Hungary, and
Spain. In eleven countries more than 2/3 of the population back the idea of a European Constitution. In six countries, support is lower than 50%.
However, in each of the 25 countries support for a Constitution is higher
than opposition.

27 November 2003

The Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe) have viewed the recent
deterioration of the IGC negotiations with concern and urge the EU's
foreign ministers meeting in Naples to not forget the valuable work
conducted by the Convention.

"The Convention process offered a vision of Europe that was more
democratic and more simple for citizens to understand," stressed Jon
Worth, President of JEF-Europe.

"This vision has clearly been forgotten by the IGC, once again proving
that this body is unable to work in true European spirit."

"The citizens of the European Union do not need another minimalist and
muddled compromise similar to the Nice Treaty. They need a clear and
efficient EU that meets their expectations, both in terms of outcomes
and how policies are decided."

4 December 2003

Commenting on the latest developments in the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) and the recent debates in the European Parliament, the Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe) call on all pro-European leaders to bring the project to establish a European Constitution back from the brink.

"For members of JEF, like all of us with a real belief in European unity, the alarm bells are really ringing," stated Jon Worth, President of JEF-Europe.

"With less than 2 weeks to go before negotiations conclude, it looks like we are going to get an EU that is still unable to meet its citizens' needs."

"It seems the efforts made within the Convention to achieve a positive compromise are going to be ignored when it comes to key institutional issues."

"Arguing in favour of the Nice Council vote weightings, or for any reduction in the powers of the European Parliament, are totally unacceptable standpoints."

4 December 2003

The European Parliament,
- having regard to the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe of 18 July 2003, prepared by the European Convention,
- having regard to its resolution of 24 September 2003 on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and the European Parliament's opinion on the convening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC)(1),
- having regard to its resolution of 20 November 2003 on the financial provisions in the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe(2),
- having regard to the Italian Presidency proposals (CIG 52/1/03),
- having regard to Rule 37 of its Rules of Procedure,

Presentation of the December European Council in Brussels

An ambitious project for Europe

European Parliament

Brussels, 3 December 2003

President,
Ladies and gentlemen,

The next European Council in Brussels will be the last in a highly eventful year. In this period of far-reaching change for Europe, almost every week brings with it developments and decisions that will have a major impact on our future.
Last week, which ended with the meeting of foreign ministers in Naples, was no exception.
But before turning to the debate on our future Constitution, I should like to refer briefly to another highly topical issue for the European Union.

Read the full speech on-line:
http://www.europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=SPEECH/03/589|0|RAPID&lg=EN;

26 November 2003

This morning the Commission discussed the amendments to the draft Constitution, which the Italian Presidency presented yesterday evening. It welcomes many parts of the proposals, and will support all Presidency efforts to maintain the balanced result of the Convention. However, some amendments change compromises reached after laborious work at the Convention. The Commission also regrets the poor progress at the IGC so far in improving the draft Constitution on some specific points.
On 28 and 29 November 2003, an IGC meeting in Naples should pave the way for the final negotiations. The meeting should mark a turning point. It should move the IGC away from simply listing national views into the final phase of negotiating and deciding in the general European interest. Ideally, work should be concluded at the Brussels European Council of 12 and 13 December, but the Commission supports the Italian Presidency in not seeking a compromise at any cost.

20 November 2003

Parliaments should adopt a list of minimal requirements for the IGC
During their meeting in Strassbourg on 19th November, members of the Integroup "European Constitution" in the European Parliament strongly criticised the work of the intergovernmental conference (IGC). So far, all proposals of national governments had been aiming at reducing the consensus reached in the Convention. The members of the European Parliament expressed their deepest disappointment that no single proposal had been made to achieve further progress in European integration.

2 December 2003

Two weeks before the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Conference, the Union of European Federalists, the citizens’ campaign group for a federal Europe, calls on the high Representatives of the Governments of the States involved in the current phase of the constitutional process to :

1. approve – without substantial modification - the Convention’s draft Constitutional Treaty which represents the largest possible consensus at this stage;

2. agree on a revision clause including an agenda and a mandate to a new Convention - to be convened no later than 2008 – in order to complete its constituent work and approve further improvements of the Constitutional Treaty;

3. proceed to the adoption of the Constitutional Treaty in December 2003 by those States which agree both on the current constitutional step forward and its future revision.

Notes to editors

- The UEF is an independent and non-governmental, supranational organisation, founded in 1946, dedicated to the promotion of a federal Europe. It is presided over by Jo LEINEN, MEP.

- The UEF issues regular Federalist Letters to the Intergovernmental Conference which are available to read online at http://www.federaleurope.org/en/campaigns/index.html

- For more information, contact Bruno Boissière, +32 2 508 30 32

27 November 2003

The IGC should back double majority voting in the Council of Ministers, says the Union of European Federalists, the citizen’s campaign group for a federal Europe.

The case against the allocation of votes set out in the Nice treaty is outlined in a new edition of the Federalist Letter to the Intergovernmental Conference, published by the UEF today.

The UEF argues that double majority voting should be used because it is clear, simple, legitimate and fair. The Nice treaty is none of these things. In particular, it does not address the problem of how to deal with member states beyond the 28 currently envisaged.

20 November 2003

Federalists warn that the retention of the national veto will bring the enlarged Union to a halt.

After the enlargement of the EU next May, the growing number of member states will make unanimous decision-making harder than ever before, says the Union of European Federalists, the citizens’ campaign group for a federal Europe.

The case for extending the use of majority voting is outlined in a new edition of the Federalist Letter to the Intergovernmental Conference, published by the UEF today.

3 December 2003

Dear Mr President,

We would like to express to you our deep concern about the ongoing
Intergovernmental Conference. To us it seems like many of the Member States are acting as if the Convention on the Future of Europe had never taken place. They do not seem to understand that the European Union is much more than simply a sum of conflicting national interests.

The EU needs to adapt to be able to integrate its new members. Yet there is a serious danger we will miss this important opportunity for reform.

Today, a very large majority of the members of the European Parliament again confirmed their support for the agreement reached in the Convention. The Convention has, with great difficulty, achieved compromises and fine balance points on the constitutional structure. Any substantial changes made by EU governments acting alone would be unacceptable in terms of legitimacy and public acceptance.

In particular we are extremely alarmed about the discussions on the budgetary competencies of the Parliament that took place in Naples. The proposals to restrict such competencies . which the Parliament has exercised for over 30 years . by backdoor trading is inexcusable and should be strongly rejected by your Presidency.

The text of the Convention on this issue is, and remains, a good compromise formula.

To read the full text of the letter click:
http://www.europakonvent.info/europakonvent/materialen/psfile/download/66/Letter_BER3fcf1aadac92b.pdf

EUROPEAN YOUTH FORUM: GIULIANO AMATO ON THE YOUTH ARTICLE

26 November 2003

Giuliano Amato: "The Youth Article is only a narrow path for a wide and crucial role that young people have in the future of Europe"

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) held its Council of Members (COMEM) in Rome on 21-22 November. More than 90 Member Organisations met to review the work accomplished by the Youth Forum in 2003 and to discuss the current situation of young people in Europe and the rest of the world.
Giuliano Amato, Vice-President of the Convention was invited to the plenary of the Council of Members and answered questions regarding the IGC, the social aspect of the EU Constitution Treaty and the Youth Article.