A Convention to draw up proposals for reform of the European Union has long been strongly demanded by the majority of the European Parliament, as well as large segments of civil society. There are many hopes and expectations linked to the Convention.

For the first time in the European integration process there is the possibility for a democratic body to produce a democratic solution for Europe. There is clearly going to be pressure from the governments towards the Convention to ensure that they maintain the final say over the direction of the European Union. Nevertheless, there is a real chance that the Convention may fulfil many of the expectations held of it and make proposals for the only solution for a democratic, transparent, and efficient Europe: a federal structure.

The Convention’s mandate also allows the Convention to tackle topics which until now had scarcely been addressed at the political level. Should the Council of Ministers be transformed into a genuine second chamber alongside the European Parliament? Should there be co-decision between the Council and the Parliament on all legislation? Should unanimity be abolished entirely? Should there be a real European army, a real European social, economic, and fiscal policy, executed by a European government and controlled by the European Parliament?

The mandate given in the Laeken Declaration allows the Convention to produce conclusions on these and many other important topics. However, the Declaration leaves the final decision with the governments of the member states in the subsequent IGC. The danger remains that the governments may choose to ignore or water down the Convention’s proposals. Therefore it is essential that the Convention engage the interest and support of the citizens, and that civil society supports strongly the work of the Convention, in order to increase its legitimacy. Only if the Convention produces strong proposals for a radical reform of the Union, and only if these proposals attract strong support from civil society and public opinion, can we prevent the national governments from putting the Convention’s work to one side.

If the Convention is successful, this process offers a genuine opportunity for a successful and fundamental reform of the European Union, creating a federal Europe under a federal Constitution.