Constitutional Treaty for Europe signed, Rome, 29 October 2004

At the European Council, Brussels, 17-18 June 2004 the Member States of the EU agreed on a text for a 'Constitutional Treaty for Europe' (called by some the 'European Constitution'). The Treaty was formally signed by the leaders of the EU Member States in Rome on 29 October 2004. This is the culmination of a process of consultation and negotiation that began with the work of the Convention on the Future of Europe in 2002-03 and the subsequent Intergovernmental Conference 2003-04. Ratification of the Treaty in each of the Member States will be necessary before the Treaty comes in to force, a process that could take place up to two years. A number of Member States intend to have a referendum to seek popular sanction for the new Treaty (see related url: 'Ratification and referendums: state of play'). If the results of one or more of these referendums are negative it may not be possible to bring the Treaty into force.

This In Focus highlights information sources issued around the time of the formal signing of the Treaty in Rome on the 29 October 2004. Further and subsequent information sources can be traced through the hyperlink at the bottom of the In Focus.

EU: Legislation and Policy Making

	EUABC: EU Constitution: Reader friendly version (with annotations and index)
	European Union: A Constitution for Europe
	European Union: Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
	European Parliament: UK Office: Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (user friendly html version), 2004

EU: Background

	European Commission: SPEECH/04/478: José Manuel Barroso: Speech at the signing of the Constitutional Treaty
	The Netherlands: EU Presidency, July-December 2004: Press Release: EU leaders sign constitutional treaty, 29.10.04
	European Union: A Constitution for Europe: Ratification and referendums: State of play
	European Union: A Constitution for Europe: Fact Sheets
	European Union: A Constitution for Europe: Summary
	European Commission: Towards a European Constitution
	European Commission: Speech: SPEECH/04/479: Romano Prodi: The signing of the European Constitution
	Council of the European Union: Press Release: With Constitution, Europe comes of age, 1.11.04
	European Central Bank: Monthly Bulletin, August 2004: The European Constitution and the ECB
	European Parliament: Daily Report, 30.9.04: A Constitution for Europe's citizens

National/regional/local official organisation

	United Kingdom: House of Commons: Library: Library Research Paper, No.75, 2004: The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe: Part III
	United Kingdom: House of Commons: Library: Library Research Papers, No.77, 2004: The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe: Part IV and protocols
	United Kingdom: House of Commons: Library: Library Research Paper, No.66, 2004:: The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe: Part 1
	United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office: The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, 2004
	Ireland: Department of Foreign Affairs: The European Constitution: Explanatory guide, 2004

Stakeholder organisation

Royal Institute of International Relations: Briefing Paper: Referendums on the EU Constitutional Treaty: The State of Play, October 2004

Commercial publisher and media

	European Voice, Vol.10, No.37, 28.10.04: Treaty fans urge 'yes' vote
	Financial Times, 4.10.04: An �a carte Europe is likely to split
	The Economist, No.8394, 25.9.04 (Survey): Europe �a carte
	BBC News: EU Constitution: Where Member States stand, 28.10.04
	Financial Times: Leaders sign EU treaty, 30.10.04
	Financial Times: Over to the public, 30.10.04
	Financial Times: Countries weigh options if treaty is not ratified, 29.10.04

Related Topic Guides / In Focus

	ESO: In Focus: Launch of the Intergovernmental Conference 2003, October 2003
	ESO: In Focus: Constitutional Treaty for Europe agreed, June 2004
	ESO: In Focus: The European Constitution: current state of negotiations following the Brussels European Council, December 2003
	ESO: In Focus: Convention on the Future of Europe: Draft of Articles 1 to 16 of 'EU Constitution' unveiled, February 2003
	ESO: In Focus: Convention on the Future of Europe: Draft 'EU Constitution' unveiled, October 2002
	ESO: In Focus: Renewed optimism to adopt European Constitutional Treaty, Spring 2004

Related Publications

Journal Articles

Paul Howard: A critique of the proposed EU Constitution: The European Journal, Vol.11, No.7, August-September 2004, p8

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