Next week, the Convention will really begin its work. Meeting on Monday 15.04 and Tuesday 16.04, the Convention members will discuss the "missions of the EU", the issue of competences.

The Convention members have been sent a serie of questions related to this
topic.

EUROPE: WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE? THE UNION'S MISSIONS

(a) Taking into account the new dimension of the Union, the present international environment, its present remit, and the aspirations of its citizens, would you give the Union more tasks? If so, what should be added? Or would you give it fewer tasks? If so, giving which tasks back to Member States?

(b) In expressing your preference, what criteria do you use for deciding which missions should be carried out at Union level? And what, in your view, should be the principles on which the Convention should base such decisions?

(c) Should the Treaties explicitly decide that responsibilities not covered by the missions of the Union remain with Member States? Or should these competences be spelt out in the Treaties? What in your view should be such responsibilities, and what criteria do you use in drawing up your list? And what, in your view, should be the principles on which the Convention might base such decisions?

(d) Should the missions of the Union be settled now, for all time? Or should the possibility of further evolution be foreseen?

The next bulletin will also focus on this question of "missions" and "competences" of the EU. Send us YOUR answers to these questions !

Send any contribution to:
mailto:contributions@constitutional-convention.net

The Convention members were also sent a description of the current system for the delimitation of competence between the European Union and the Member States, available under http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/02/cv00/00017en2.pdf