Division mostly prevailing...
At a meeting with Edmund Stoiber, leader of Germany's Christian Social Union party in Bavaria, the British Conservative leader David Cameron couldn't resist at commenting the efforts to revive the EU's Constitutional treaty. The EU blueprint is a "dead document", Cameron said, arguing that the Treaty had been "distractive and disruptive" and that it "represent the wrong direction for the EU". Cameron mentioned also that the Conservatives would "vigorously campaign for a no vote" in a UK referendum. Conservative leader David Cameron (09 Jan 07) (Source: Financial Times)
It seems that Royal has finally taken position on the EU Constitution. According to the EUobserver, the socialist candidate to the French presidential elections is in favour of a new referendum on a revised EU Constitution in 2009. In contrast to Sarkozy’s mini-Treaty, Royal said that the new version of the text should add a fresh social declaration on workers’ rights and public services: “With this,” Royal says, “I think the French people will regain confidence and I will be able to bring them along, those who voted yes and those who voted no”. Although backed by Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, it is rather doubtful that Mrs. Merkel will appreciate the idea of a new French referendum, as it is clearly in contradiction with Angela’s personal objectives… Socialist candidate for the French presidential elections Ségolène Royal (18 Jan 07) (Source: Open Europe)
The « Friends of the Constitution » summit hosted by Madrid on Friday 26th has been perceived as an attempt to give a strong answer to the people in Europe that consider the Constitution dead. But the key issue in Madrid goes beyond the protection of the existing document. The declaration adopted by delegates stated that “An agreement that limits itself to a few institutional changes is not sufficient to respond to the concerns of European citizens”, indicating that immigration, internal and external security, energy and climate change should be brought within the ambit of a new treaty. Although Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos has qualified the Constitution as a « magnificient document », he underligned the fact that some countries wouldn't be keen on expanding the terms even further. Therefore the Union “would very likely have to resort to mechanisms of differentiated integration or of enhanced cooperation”, Moratinos said. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos (29 Jan 2007) (Source: Open Europe)
The Netherlands recently admitted their will to postpone a decision on whether to hold a second referendum on the EU Constitution until a new version of the text is agreed at the EU level. Commenting this decision, Mr. Barroso said: “Referendums make the process of approval of European treaties much more complicated and less predictable”, asking “every member state” considering a referendum to “think twice”. Although he backed the 2004 referendum on the Constitution when he was the Prime Minister of Portugal, it seems that Mr. Barroso changed his mind, because the referendum “makes our lives with 27 Member States in the EU more difficult”. President of the Commission Jose Manuel Barroso (06 Feb 2007)(Source: Het Financieele Dagblad).
Gerard Onesta, a French MEP and vice-president of the European Parliament believes the solution to the Constitutional locking in the EU is to be found in a different ratification procedure rather than in changing the initial text. According to Onesta, the content of the Treaty should remain exactly the same but it should be divided in two parts. The first part, the Constitution, would contain the objectives of the Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the second part, a mere Treaty, would contain the EU policies. Therefore, the first part would need an EU-wide referendum approved by half of Member States representing half of the EU population and the second part would need to be ratified by all 27 national Parliaments. Onesta’s most ambitious proposal is to include a revision clause in the Treaty allowing amendments to the Treaty if 80% of Governments and 80% of national Parliaments agreed. Green MEP and vice-president of the EU Parliament Gerard Onesta (13 Feb 2007) (Source: EUobserver).
Italian and Spanish prime ministers, Romano Prodi and Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero have met on the Balearic Island on Tuesday 20 February to express their full support to the German attempts to revive the Constitution. Italy and Spain, which are part of the 18 Member States that ratified the charter, have called for a solution that would preserve the essence of the existing text. In the meantime, Italian Interior minister Giuliano Amato has declared he had little hope than the June summit would produce more than a mandate for a future intergovernmental conference on a new Treaty. “One of the reasons why I'm not sure whether this dream of mine might come true in June is the British transition, because the British prime minister on that occasion might meet some difficulty committing his country for the future”, Amato said. Italian Interior Minister Giuliano Amato (21 Feb 2007)(Source: EUobserver).
01 Mar 2007 - According to French hopeful candidate to the presidency Nicolas Sarkozy, a simplified treaty would be necessary for the correct "funtionning of the institutions" of the EU. He argues that the abolition of the national vetoes in EU decision-making is essential and that "it is inconceivable that a single member state, indeed even two, should be able to stop the Union advancing". Sarkozy also insisted on the need for greater integration in foreign policy: "After half a century of European construction, we are sufficiently united to ensure that none of our states can conduct a great diplomatic action on its own, but not enough to act together and to count significantly on the international scene" Sarkozy said. French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy (01 Mar 2007)(Source: Open Europe).
12 Mar 2007 - During a head of states summit on 8 March, the EU's 50th anniversary declaration was debated by member states representatives. Although there were some disagreements, particularly on the question of enlargement, there was a broad endorsement on the basic structure to adopt, a five parts text mentioning the EU's history; its values; its particular characteristics; its challenges; and its commitments. « There was complete agreement the declaration should be addressed to the citizens of Europe and as such should be understandable, it should not use the traditional language of the European Union and should not use technical terms, » Ms Merkel told journalists after the dinner. To the question whether the declaration should make reference to the strong rôle of the European institutions, most EU leaders agreed that the term « community methods » should be rephrased in a citizen-friendly way : « There are linguistic challenges there » said Merkel. The question of reviving the EU Constitution was however left aside, with most leaders agreeing that there is a need to highlight the need for institutional reform but that the declaration should not do what the June summit on the EU Constitution is supposed to do. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (08 Mar 2007)(Source: EUobserver).
