Brussels, 10 March 2004

Giscard calls on MEPs to approve constitution
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, former chairman of the
Convention on the Future of Europe, appeared before
Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee on
Tuesday evening. He told MEPs that Parliament could
make its voice heard by symbolically approving the
draft European constitution in the form proposed by
the Convention. He added that it was important to find
some way of ensuring this gesture had "an impact in
the media". However, he also called on Parliament to
let the Irish Presidency work in peace up to the
European Council meeting of 25 and 26 March.

Mr Giscard d'Estaing said the text of the constitution
must retain its character, of being "constitutional,
readable, transparent and capable of being understood
by everyone". An enlarged Europe could not function
without a constitution, he stressed, so this was also
in the interests of the new Member States. And it was
essential to "oppose any roll-back of European
culture" and any moves to revert to "national
demands".

In formal terms, the Intergovernmental Conference had
not failed, said Mr Giscard d'Estaing. Rather, there
had been "an absence of conclusions". In political
terms, however, it had been a failure, which must not
be repeated. He congratulated the Irish Presidency,
which he is to meet shortly, on the "wisdom of its
approach". But, he went on, "the compromise reached
must not be weakened by a further compromise".

Mariotto SEGNI (UEN, I) then presented an initiative
by five MEPs from five different political groups and
five different countries: Thierry CORNILLET (EPP-ED,
F), Monica FRASSONI (Greens/EFA, B), Jo LEINEN (PES,
D), Diana WALLIS (ELDR, UK) and himself. They are
calling on MEPs to sign a written declaration saying
Parliament is prepared to adopt the constitutional
treaty if EU governments fail to reach agreement.
(Rule 51 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure states
that up to five Members may submit a written
declaration which other MEPs may sign during a plenary
session and, if a majority of Parliament's component
Members sign it within three months, the declaration
shall be forwarded to the institutions named in it.)
Jean-Louis BOURLANGES (EPP-ED, F), who favoured
approving the constitution, felt this gesture did not
go far enough. It would be "platonic", he argued, if
at the same time the various national political
parties did not express a position for or against the
constitution. He proposed linking the issue to the
appointment of the President of the European
Commission, which must be approved by Parliament. This
would be "a way of exerting pressure on the European
Council".

Elmar BROK (EPP-ED, D), who represents Parliament at
the Intergovernmental Conference, believed pressure
must be kept up on the European Council over the next
two and a half weeks, to push the Irish Presidency to
take a risk and move things forward. Enrique BARON
CRESPO (PES. E) argued "the constitution is alive", as
70% of the public supports it. Regarding Spain's
position, he promised his country would "lend a hand
to help settle the issue", thereby envisaging a
Socialist victory at the next elections in Spain on 14
March. Andrew DUFF (ELDR, UK) believed a new IGC
should be called before 1 May, while Jo LEINEN (PES,
D) proposed that the national parliaments themselves
should approve the draft constitution.

09.03.2004 Committee on Constitutional Affairs
In the chair: Giorgio NAPOLITANO (PES, I)

Press enquiries:
Enrico D'Ambrogio - tel. (32-2) 28 42591
e-mail: constit-press@europarl.eu.int