Parliament needs more power, Convention told

Date: 25/04/02

By Martin Banks

MEMBERS of the Convention on Europe's future have been urged to recommend giving the European Parliament more power.

This, say participants at a 'mini-convention' of 50 non-governmental organisations meeting in Brussels, is the only way the 105-member Convention can achieve its aim of 'reconnecting' the EU with its citizens.

The Convention's chairman, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, is keen to take on board the views of 'civil society' groups. Among the key issues under discussion are the competences, or responsibilities of various EU institutions.

One of the speakers at last week's debate, Mauro Acbrizio, vice-president of European Environmental Bureau (EEB), which represents eight major environmental groups including Friends of the Earth Europe and Greenpeace, said: 'We want to see the Convention bridge the gap between ordinary people and the EU.

'To achieve this, the role of the Parliament - the only democratically elected EU institution - has to be strengthened. This is important and the only way Europe's citizens can be truly involved in the decision-making process.'

Henrik Kroner, of the European Movement, expressed his hope that the Convention would enable the EU to become a global power. 'We want the EU to speak with one voice on the world stage, with an effective common foreign policy,' he said.

Other speakers complained about the 'lamentably poor' public access to main Convention meetings.

Tony Venables, of Europe Citizens Action Service, said: 'At the first meeting in February, some people were allowed only 45 minutes in the public gallery, while at last week's plenary, I know of at least ten people who'd been waiting for an hour and were then turned away without getting in.

'When people complain to the European Parliament about this they get a negative reply. This is a very simple issue but if the Convention cannot get this right, it makes you wonder.'

• Further meetings of civil society groups will be held at the Brussels offices of the Economic and Social Committee at 3pm on 27 May and 27 June.

Members of the Convention on the Future of Europe have been urged to recommend giving the European Parliament more power.