MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
22.11.2005
by Paolo Cirino Pomicino and Raffaele Lombardo
on a new start for the European constitutional process
B6‑0617/2005
Motion for a European Parliament resolution on a new start for the European constitutional process
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the 'no' vote by the people of France and the Netherlands and the decision of the United Kingdom Government to suspend the holding of a referendum on the European Constitution,
– having regard to Rule 113 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas 14 Member States, representing a majority of the Union's population, have so far ratified the Constitution,
B. having regard to the various available options, ranging from abandonment of the constitutional treaty to the re-drafting of it,
C. whereas, in mature democracies, the development of political unity in a community has always gone hand in hand with the growth in the authority of its parliamentary institutions and their assumption of the most important responsibilities,
D. whereas the Convention which drew up the draft Constitution consisted of 112 members, of whom only 16 were Members of the European Parliament,
E. whereas, in the history of the individual states of Europe, constitutional processes have always been the sole domain of parliamentary assemblies,
1. Decides to set up a special parliamentary committee of at least 50 members with the task of drawing up a new draft constitution to be submitted within 9 months for approval by Parliament and, subsequently, for ratification by the Member States, on the basis of the text adopted and in close cooperation with national parliaments, while also promoting public discussion fora.