Friday

29th Mar 2024

Convention broadly supports draft EU constitution

Although they had little over an hour to debate the draft outline for a future EU constitution on Tuesday, Convention delegates were welcoming of the "skeletal" proposal as a start-off point. However, as soon as the details of the outline were examined, criticisms were raised.

Asked by Convention president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing to just debate the "structure," it was clear to all delegates that the task ahead, "putting the flesh on the bones" as several speakers put it, was where the difficulties would lie.

An intergovernmental leaning?

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

It was those who want a more federal EU who voiced the most concerns. Elmar Brok, conservative MEP, spoke of the "intergovernmental" nature of the treaty which he said "could be circumnavigated if we so desire." He was backed up by fellow EPP member Hanja Maij-Weggen who said "there is too much intergovernmentalism in this treaty."

Similarly, concerned about the draft constitution's reference to a Council President and a European Council President as well as a Commission President, several delegates pointed out the need to strengthen all the institutions and not just the Council.

Mr Gijs de Vries, the Dutch government representative, said that "we do not need a more intergovernmental union" and called for a maintaining of the "balance" among the institutions and "strengthening" each one. Dick Roche, his Irish counterpart, made exactly the same plea and wondered at the necessity of both a Council president as well as European Council president. Peter Hain, the UK government representative, also called for a "strengthening of each institution."

Eurosceptics also concerned

For some, however, the document was too federalist. David Heath-Coat Amory, a UK conservative MEP called it a "very dangerous document indeed." He said that it would take power away from voters.

Presidium to forge compromise on institutional issues

Klaus Hänsch, presidium member and therefore privy to the drawing up of the draft reminded delegates that "nothing was set in stone." Referring to the sensitive issue of institutional layout in a future EU treaty, Mr Giscard said this would have to be debated "in plenary." It would then be up to the presidium to forge a compromise.

Later he went on to express his support for the council having a president: "Why shouldn't it have a single president?" The rotating presidency, whereby member states head the council on a six-month basis, is "not constructive or realistic," added the Convention chairman.

Lengthy debate not very constructive

Although not many delegates had aired their views, Mr Giscard said a "lengthy debate over the architecture would not be very constructive." Reminding convention members that an early outline had been drawn up at their behest, he said that when the rest of the working groups had submitted their views, there will be a "new outline" - most likely at the beginning of next year. He summed up by saying the outline had received a "very encouraging response" although there were "obviously lots of outstanding issues."

Giscard presents draft constitutional treaty

Officially handed out to members of the Convention on the future of Europe on Monday afternoon, the skeletal outline for a future constitutional treaty of Europe has 46 articles and is divided into three parts and a preamble. Introducing the draft as a "basic structure," Convention president Giscard Valéry d’Estaing, requested that the debate be on "structure and not on substance."

Ukraine slams grain trade restrictions at EU summit

Restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU could translate into military losses in their bid to stop Russia's war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned EU leaders during their summit in Brussels on Thursday.

Difficult talks ahead on financing new EU defence spending

With the war in Ukraine showing no signs of ending any time soon, EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday (21 and 22 March) to discuss how to boost the defence capabilities of Ukraine and of the bloc itself.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  2. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  3. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  5. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  6. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us