The Convention on the Future of Europe. Working towards an EU constitution (2003)

Book abstract:

This book is published by the Federal Trust whose aim is to enlighten public debate on issues arising from the interaction of national, European and global levels of government.

This collection of essays in its broadest sense provides a progress report on the work of the European Union's Constitutional Convention under the chairmanship of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. The essays address such issues as the EU's democratic legitimacy and consider whether or not the convention will add to that. The contribution by Jo Shaw considers how the Convention has added to the process of the development of the acquis through its working methods and through the management of the process by key players such as Giscard d'Estaing. The following essay by Lars Hoffmann provides a short analysis of the reasons for convening the Convention on the Future of the Union and how it might contribute to a deepening of the integration process. 'Rethinking the methods of dividing and exercising powers in the EU' and 'Reforming subsidiarity, national parliaments and legitimacy' are issues covered in the contribution by Anna Vergés Bausili. The work closes with 'An early afterword' by Andrew Duff MEP.

The work will interest scholars, students and practitioners of European integration, as well as national policy makers, business and the media.