Convention rift over God’s amendments

Date: 27/02/03

GOD continues to split the Convention on the future of the EU which is set to argue today (27 February) over His place in the constitution the forum is drafting.

The stakes are high, as the issue- far from being solely a philosophical debate - has wide legal implications.

A mention of God in Article 2 of the draft on the Union's values - as requested by the Convention's largest group, the European People's Party (EPP), and a number of other members' amendments - could trigger sanctions against member states not respecting those values. Article 40 of the constitution will set out the sanctions.

According to a Convention insider, the sanctions system would be similar to that provided for in Article 7 of the present EU treaty.

Under this, states found breaching the EU's principles can be deprived of voting rights.

"This is something to keep in mind while drafting Article 2.

"It is difficult to attach the issue of religious beliefs to sanctions.

"There are legal limits to this discussion, not only political ones," a Convention official said.

Pope John-Paul II has long called for a mention of God. The EPP has proposed "the Union values include the values of those who believe in God as the source of truth, justice, good and beauty as well as those who do not share such a belief but respect these universal values arising from other sources."

One alternative under discussion is that God would only be referred to in the preamble to the treaty.

The Convention on the future of the EU is set to argue on 27 February 2003 over whether God has a place in the constitution the forum is drafting.