Dehaene defends role of Convention

Date: 04/04/02

By Martin Banks

THE Convention on the future of Europe has an 'image' problem with EU citizens, its deputy chairman has admitted.

But Jean-Luc Dehaene says he is confident the problems confronting the historic assembly can eventually be overcome.

In an interview with European Voice yesterday (3 April), the former Belgian prime minister blamed the Convention's public relations headaches on 'several factors'.

'The fact that we have not yet got down to debating concrete proposals is one reason,' he said. 'There has also been a lot of discussion about internal matters such as the debating rules.'

Another reason why the 105-member forum has yet to command much public attention, Dehaene added, could be the perceived image of its chairman, former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

Giscard has been described by one unnamed EU official as 'the day-before-yesterday's man' and criticised for his arrogant style.

But Dehaene defended the Convention chairman. 'People should not allow their prejudices to cloud his undoubted skills and experience,' said Dehaene. 'He is well placed to lead the convention and should be given a chance.'

Dehaene, who headed the centre-right Belgian coalition for seven years until being voted out of office in 1999, added: 'While we should not be obsessed with image, I realise that, particularly in this day and age, the way a forum such as this is perceived by the public is important.

'We have made a good start but there is still work to be done in this area. However, I am confident that once we start producing concrete texts and proposals, both public awareness and confidence in the Convention will improve.'

To help achieve this, he appealed to the 'civil forum', made up of trade unions, business and non-governmental organisations, to start raising awareness of the Convention in member states.

Dehaene, 61, also conceded that work was still needed to build up a confident relationship between the 12-member steering committee, or praesidium, and the Convention itself. There have been several disagreements over the forum's debating rules, along with criticism of Giscard's stewardship.

Of his hopes for the Convention, Dehaene said he wishes to see an end to the use of national vetoes and wants the EU to play a more effective role in international conflicts and the fight against terrorism.

He said he also hopes the Convention will produce a constitutional treaty when it completes its work next summer ready for adoption in 2004.

Dehaene, who expressed 'disappointment' that more women and younger people were not represented on the Convention, said one of the forum's main challenges was tackling what he describes as the Union's 'delivery deficit'.

'We have to accept there is a deficit on certain issues, such as security and full implementation of monetary union, between what the public expects of us and what the EU actually delivers,' he said.

'We face a great challenge and I am looking forward to the year ahead.'

Meanwhile, Dehaene was praised after meeting members of the European Youth Forum last week.

Henrik Soderman, its president, said: 'We were encouraged by the fact that he underlined the need and opportunity for youth groups to contribute to the Convention.'

Jean-Luc Dehaene, the deputy chairman of the Convention on the Future of Europe has suggested that the Convention has an 'image' problem with EU citizens.