Giscard control over Convention speaking rights under attack

Date: 28/02/02

By Martin Banks

A ROW over the 'undemocratic' power wielded by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing threatened to over-shadow today's (28 February) launch of the EU Convention.

A 16-point set of rules was due to be discussed at its inaugural meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels. A draft copy seen by European Voice shows that, if adopted, the 76-year-old former French president will have full control over who speaks and when, as well as deciding which documents can be translated.

Convention member Matti Vanhanen, a Finnish MP, called the concentration of powers within Giscard's praesidium 'completely unacceptable'.

Karel de Gucht, a Belgian parliament representative, echoed his fears, saying: 'We are not prepared to accept what is done in Giscard's hotel suite.'

Many delegates are also unhappy about the political make-up of the praesidium, which will shape the Convention's agenda: all but one of its 12 members come from the European Parliament's two biggest groups, the European People's Party and Group of European Socialists.

Danish MEP Jens-Peter Bonde said EU candidate states should be represented, at least as observers, on the decision-making panel.

'The Convention is not an applauding focus group around Giscard but a democratic assembly,' he argued. 'Every member and substitute of the Convention should have full rights to speak and participate in its work. These rules will give Giscard an undemocratic degree of power.'

The European Women's Lobby (EWL), meanwhile, hit out at the 'deplorable' lack of female representation on the Convention. Only two women, Spanish MEP Ana Palacio and UK MP Gisela Stuart are on the praesidium and there are just 16 females in total on the whole forum.

'The lack of vision and innovation in the nomination process doesn't bode well for the Convention's future,' said EWL secretary general Mary McPhail.

Giscard will declare today that the formation of the Convention comes at a 'turning point' in its history and that its 105 members would be embarking on a 'big adventure'.

There would be no grand blueprint; instead members would have a blank canvas - with the onus on them to make the Convention a success.

Giscard's spokesman, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, stressed that the Convention chairman would be 'open to ideas' and happy to discuss the rules of procedure drawn up by his secretariat, headed by Briton Sir John Kerr.

Spanish Prime Minister José Mariá Aznar, European Parliament President Pat Cox and Commission President Romano Prodi were also due to address the opening ceremony in Brussels.

This week's appointment of British Socialist Gisela Stuart and ex-Irish premier John Bruton completed the make-up of the praesidium. Stuart said: 'Our biggest challenge is to ensure it doesn't get bogged down in words.'

And Bruton commented: 'Our task is to make sure that all the people of Europe feel they have a part to play in the construction of a new Europe.'

The Bertelsmann Foundation, Germany's best-known think-tank, yesterday urged the Convention to clearly define its aims from the start, with simplification of the EU Treaties as its over-riding objective. It calls for a new 'basic Treaty' which would be transparent and understandable, taking in the essential elements of the existing Treaties and integrating the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

It argues that the Convention chairman should participate 'with equal rights' to the EU's leaders at the next 2004 Intergovernmental Conference, which will determine what reforms, if any, will be carried out on the basis of his recommendations.

The think-tank also suggests that another vice-chairman should be nominated from the ranks and join him on the IGC to ensure that the views of national parliaments and the European Parliament are adequately represented. Giscard has two vice-chairmen at present, Italy's Giuliano Amato and Belgium's Jean-Luc Dehaene.

The Convention's next meets in Brussels on 21 March.

A row over the 'undemocratic' power wielded by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing threatened to overshadow the launch of the EU Convention on the Future of Europe, 28 February 2002.

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