MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
4 March 2004
pursuant to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Johannes Voggenhuber, Monica Frassoni and Sir Neil MacCormick
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
on the preparation of the European Council on 25-26 March 2004
B5‑0117/2004
European Parliament resolution on the preparation of the European Council on 25-26 March 2004
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, drawn up by the European Convention,
– having regard to the overwhelming consensus in the Convention on the Future of Europe in favour of the proposals for a European democracy, the deepening of the Union and its capacity for action, in which the personal representatives of Heads of State and of Government were also involved,
– having regard to the general acknowledgement of the need for a deepening of European integration in the course of enlargement of the Union,
– having regard to the meeting of the European Council on 25-26 March,
– having regard to Rule 37(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Convention was composed of representatives of parliaments, European institutions and governments which with difficulty achieved together compromises on many fine points of balance in the constitutional structure,
B. whereas the Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe drawn up by the European Convention was on many points already difficult to accept for the parliamentary majority within the Convention and whereas any further deviations by the governments acting alone would be unacceptable,
1. Strongly supports the Irish Presidency in its efforts to relaunch the IGC in order to reach a positive conclusion before 1 May; insists, however, that the urge to reach agreement must not cause any regression from the Convention text;
2. Recalls that the compromise proposals put forward by the Italian presidency after the extraordinary summit in Naples (GIG 60/03, ADD1) are nearly exclusively steps backwards with regard to the draft Constitution and had the tendency to change the institutional balance in favour of the governments; emphatically insists therefore that those proposals can by no means be considered a basis for resumption of negotiations;
3. Reiterates its position - deeply convinced that using intergovernmental negotiation as the sole method definitely prevents further integration of the Union - that it is indispensable to adopt an improved procedure for revision of the Constitution which excludes the power of veto and includes the full involvement of and ratification by the European Parliament;
4. Proposes, in the event of failure to reach agreement before 1 May, that other means be explored which give emphasis to the parliaments and avoid vetoes in order to achieve a Constitution for Europe;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council and the parliaments of the Member States and accession states.