NGOs declare Convention draft a ‘backward step’

Date: 26/06/03

By Martin Banks

NON-governmental organizations (NGOs) have delivered a damning verdict on the Convention on the EU's future. They say that the draft constitutional treaty drawn up by the Convention represents a backward step on issues of most importance to the public.

The criticism is made in a report compiled by members of the civil society contact group, representing environmental, social, human rights and development groups in Europe.

Its chairman, Dick Oosting, acknowledged there have been efforts to involve civil society representatives in the Convention's debate, but deplores the lack of progress on issues dear to citizens.

The report assesses the results of the Convention, compared with demands the civil society contact group made to the forum 12 months ago. On a commitment to eradicate poverty, it says there has been no progress and "some worrying developments".

The Convention's failure to forge an effective EU foreign policy will continue to hamper the Union's "effectiveness on the world stage to achieve justice, peace and equality", Oosting warned.

"The draft treaty remains too focused around the single market and economic goals," their report states.

The Convention, however, was praised for its "promising work" in promoting greater involvement in EU decision-making by civil society.

A major disappointment, though, was the forum's refusal to include a right of access to the European Court of Justice for citizens and organizations.

The NGOs are concerned that the draft produced by the Convention risks being watered down by member states, when they negotiate a final constitution text.

"A return to closed debate, horse-trading and narrow political considerations would lead to large parts of civil society losing faith in the EU's ability to truly plot a course for the future which reflects the aspirations of its peoples," Oosting said.

The civil society contact group has criticised the European Convention for failing to advance on issues important to European citizens.