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Conventional Wisdom |
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A constitution for the European Union is due in the spring |
By JAMES GRAFF/Brussels |
Posted Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002; 2.02 p.m. GMT
The Convention on the Future of Europe — the grand-sounding commission, chaired by former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, that's trying to figure out how to improve the way the European Union is run — is expected to make its proposal for an E.U. constitution in April and its final policy recommendations in June. Both will be children of war — an ongoing battle between those who favor a strong, integrated voice from Brussels and those who want to keep more power in the national capitals.
Look for the integrationists to come from behind and win the fight. The Convention — whose 105 members represent national governments and parliaments, the European Commission, and the European Parliament — has already signaled that an eventual E.U. Constitution should contain a Charter of Fundamental Rights.
It also wants national ministers, who currently propose laws for the E.U. in closed sessions known as the European Council, to instead meet publicly as a kind of second legislative chamber. The idea is that the light of day will transform the cynical dealmaking typical of such sessions into real political dialogue.
The last word on any arrangements, of course, remains with the national governments. But they won't be able to ignore the more integrationist package the Convention looks bound to deliver.
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End of the Affair? [Oct. 21, 2002]
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