Launch of the Intergovernmental Conference 2003, October 2003

Introduction

European Union (EU) leaders and heads of government met in Rome on 4 October 2003 to launch an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). The remit of this IGC is to produce a new Constitutional Treaty to replace the existing Treaties with one single text - a single framework to ensure that the EU remains both democratic and effective after enlargement.

An Intergovernmental Conference is a special committee of representatives of the governments of the EU Member States convened to consider amendments to the Treaties. They meet at the request of the Council of Ministers, in accordance with Article 48 of the Maastricht Treaty. Since the foundation of the Community there have been seven significant revisions of the Treaties: the 1965 Merger Treaty, the 1970 and 1975 Treaties on the budgetary powers of the European Parliament, the 1986 Single European Act (SEA), the 1992 Maastricht Treaty on European Union and the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam (in force since May 1999), and the 2001 Treaty of Nice (in force since February 2003).

For the first time in the history of the European Union this IGC was preceded by a European Convention, with 105 delegates, including representatives of governments and members of national parliaments from 28 countries as well as representatives of EU institutions, deliberating on the best way forward. As the aim was to provide a more open and transparent method of revising the Treaties, debates were held in public and all contributions from members of the Convention, proceedings of the debates and drafts of the texts were made available on the Convention website.

The outcome of these discussions was the Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, presented to the Thesssaloniki European Council in June 2003 by the President of the European Convention Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. The heads of government meeting in Thessaloniki accepted in their conclusions [pdf] (paragraph 5) that this draft Treaty was a 'good basis' for negotiations starting in the IGC. The European Council agreed that the IGC should complete its work and agree the Constitutional Treaty as soon as possible and in time for it to 'become known to European citizens' before the June 2004 elections to the European Parliament. The Constitutional Treaty will be signed by the Member States of the enlarged Union as soon as possible after 1 May 2004.

Any Treaty emerging from the IGC will need to be agreed unanimously before being presented to Member States for ratification in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Practical arrangements for the IGC

The IGC participants are heads of state (or government) and foreign ministers (or Europe ministers) of the 15 existing members of the EU, together with the ten countries due to join in May 2004, with the Italian EU Presidency chairing the meetings. Prime ministers attended the first meeting of the conference on 4 October 2003 and will take part in two more of the eight meetings scheduled before the end of 2003, at European Councils in Brussels on 16-17 October and on 12-13 December.

A timetable [pdf] was published at the beginning of October 2003, giving an indication of the likely topics to be covered and the level of discussion in the main meetings scheduled before the European Council in December 2003:

The Italian EU Presidency has proposed that the IGC negotiations should be based on written questionnaires sent to the Member States and, when considered necessary, on separate consultations. The results of these consultations are being posted on the Documents website of the IGC.

The legal examination of the forthcoming Treaty has been assigned to a group consisting of legal experts from the judicial organs of the EU institutions and from the Member States in order to ensure that discussions within the IGC are based on a text which is clear and legally correct. The first version of this - a 553 page document was published in French on the IGC website on 6 October 2003 - Observations rédactionnelles et juridiques sur le projet de traité établissant une Constitution pour l'Europe - Document de base [pdf].

The European Commission is represented by President Romano Prodi accompanied by the Commissioner for Regional Policies, Michel Barnier. Mr. Barnier will also participate in ministerial sessions, together with Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner António Vitorino.

Two European Parliament representatives and the three candidate countries, Bulgaria and Romania, with whom negotiations are underway, and Turkey, will take part in IGC meetings as observers.

The Italian Presidency's aim is to bring the IGC negotiations to a conclusion during its EU Presidency, in time for a new Treaty of Rome to be signed, possibly in May 2004 when the ten new members formally join the EU.

Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe Issues

Summaries of the proposals contained in the draft Treaty can be found in: European Parliament Summary of the draft Constitution adopted by the Convention; European Commission Draft Constitution: citizens' guide [pdf] and a study by the pressure group Statewatch Annotated texts of the proposed EU Constitution.

The draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe is divided into four parts, dealing respectively with

• the constitutional architecture of the European Union
• the incorporation of the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights
• the policies and operation of the Union
• general and final provisions.

The main points of discussion at the IGC will include:

Members of the European Commission

The draft constitution proposes a two-tier Commission with 15 voting and 10 non-voting members; every five years countries would rotate across the tiers. Many current and future Member States want all 25 commissioners to have a vote, on the principle of 'one country one vote'. The President of the Commission is also in favour of keeping 25 Commissioners.

It is not clear what role there will be for the proposed non-voting Commissioners nor how an EU of 25 would be able to function until the proposed changes to the Commission take effect in 2009. A questionnaire [pdf] on the Composition of the Commission has been circulated by the IGC Presidency in advance of the Ministerial meeting on 14 October 2003.

This proposal has been vigorously denounced by small Member States, who met in Prague in September 2003 to prepare a campaign to ensure they continue to have a commissioner with full powers in Brussels. (For further detail on this see the 'Opinion in the Member States' section below).

European Council and a permanent President

The European Council is to become a full institution. The revolving Presidency, whereby each Member State in turn holds the Presidency for six months, will be replaced by a permanent President for the Council. A number of countries, mainly the smaller ones, say the new proposal favours the bigger countries, and want rotation to continue.

There is some controversy over the powers that the new President will be allowed. The UK would be happy for an expansion of his or her role while the smaller countries are hoping to limit the President's powers.

Council of Ministers

The draft Constitution provides for a Legislative and General Affairs Council to be set up in order to ensure consistency in the Council's work and a Foreign Affairs Council to be chaired by the EU Minister for Foreign Affairs. A specific legal basis will allow the European Council to set up other formations of the Council, chaired by representatives of Member States on the basis of equal rotation. Important details have yet to be agreed as to how to run these sectoral Councils - trade, agriculture, economics, finance and so on, in particular how the Presidency of these will be determined.

An initial paper produced by the IGC on the Presidency [pdf] outlines the various positions adopted by the Member States. Options, which are not necessarily exclusive, include maintenance of the six-monthly Presidency rotation system; Presidency by election within each Council formation; or a 'Team' Presidency system by which the chairmanship of individual Council formations is shared out amongst a group of Member States within a set period.

It is unclear what, if any, powers the new President will have over these Council presidencies.

Majority voting and the use of the veto

Voting in the Council of Ministers is to be based on a simple 'double majority' system, based on population. The draft Treaty (Article 24) says votes should be carried if at least half of Member States support a motion, representing at least three fifths (60%) of the EU's population. Spain and Poland have objected to this proposal, wanting to stick to a system of weighted votes agreed in the 2000 Nice Treaty.

An extension of qualified majority voting within the Council is envisaged by the draft Constitution for some thirty provisions for which unanimity is currently required, although the veto is set to remain in key areas including foreign policy, defence, tax, and some social security issues. The UK and Ireland both have reservations on this issue.

Defence cooperation

There is to be a possibility for certain countries to have more defence cooperation. The UK, the Netherlands and some of the new Member States say this encroaches on NATO's role. On top of that, Britain is concerned at the idea too of a core group of countries giving each other a mutual defence guarantee outside of NATO.

Minister for Foreign Affairs

There is to be a new EU foreign minister, combining in one post the responsibilities currently falling to the Commissioner for External Relations and the High Representative. An early paper [pdf] from the IGC states that 'The concept of the double-hatted Foreign Minister has not been called into question by any delegation'.

A questionnaire [pdf] on the European Union Minister for Foreign Affairs has been circulated by the IGC Presidency in advance of the Ministerial meeting on 14 October 2003.

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

The EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights is set to become part II of the constitution.

Religion

The preamble to the draft constitution makes no reference to Christianity, or any other religion. Poland believes it should, and has support from Spain and Italy. Staunchly secular France, and some countries which back Turkish EU membership, oppose the idea. (See European Voice: 11.09.03: Poles to insist on Christianity in constitution; 25.09.03: Bishops push Berlusconi on IGC).

European Parliament

The European Parliament's legislative and budgetary powers are consolidated, so that it votes on nearly all EU decisions and elects the President of the European Commission on a proposal from the European Council.

National Parliaments

A protocol on the application on the principles of subsidiarity gives national parliaments a say on whether legislative proposals comply with the principle of subsidiarity.

Opinion in the Member States

Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark are largely happy with the draft.

Many of the smaller members are dissatisfied with the proposal for a two-tier Commission; Austria, Finland and other smaller countries including the 10 new members from eastern and southern Europe argue that plans to reduce the number of European Commissioners with the power to vote would undermine their position. (See Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release; Financial Times: A fractured Europe: divisions deepen between big and small countries, north and south, elites and their electors of 17.09.03 and Smaller EU countries dig their heels in of 22.09.03).

The Finnish Prime Minister reporting to Parliament on 2 September 2003 said of the two-tier Commission:

We do not consider the aforementioned a viable proposition, not in regard to the Commission nor in regard to the whole institutional system. .. we are ready to reform the organisation of the Commission in any matter that will contribute to the efficiency of the Commission. Any proposed system of rotation must, however, strictly respect equality among Member States.

The Austrian Foreign Minister clarified on 29 September in Brussels the points that she hopes to see discussed before the conclusion of the IGC.

A major sticking point is that Poland and Spain are unhappy with the proposed way of voting by 'double majority' within the Council of Ministers based on population (see above). These two countries would prefer to stick with the existing more complex system of voting, agreed under the Treaty of Nice, which gives them proportionally greater influence. Under this system from 1 November 2004 Poland and Spain will have a weighting of 27 votes against just 29 for the more populous larger Member States (Germany, France Italy and the UK). (The Foreign Ministers of Spain and Poland make their case in the Financial Times on 25 September How to keep the balance in Europe's new treaty).

The UK government views were published in a White Paper A Constitutional Treaty for the EU: the British approach to the European Union Intergovernmental Conference 2003 [pdf] Cm 5934, on 9 September 2003. Tony Blair, in his introduction to the White Paper writes:

the Convention's end product - a draft Constitutional Treaty for the European Union - is good news for Britain. ... It is not and will not be a federal superstate. The text reinforces the role of national Parliaments in the Union. And it proposes a new position of full-time President of the European Council, which will mean greater accountability to national governments as well as greater efficiency. But the text is not perfect. Like many other Member States, there are some points in the Convention text which we will want to examine in more detail. And we could only accept a final text that made it clear that issues like tax, defence and foreign policy remain the province of the nation State. Provided there is clarity on these points, the reforms proposed by the Convention should be welcomed.

The British Government has its 'red lines', mostly to do with keeping a veto in a number of areas including tax, social security and criminal law. There is also an issue over whether moves for an EU defence policy might affect NATO.

The UK has launched a website allowing for Online consultation on the draft EU Constitutional Treaty where users can view comments made by others as well as contributing to the debate.

Institutional opinions

European Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a Resolution on 24 September 2003 based on a Report on the draft Treaty by the Constitutional Affairs Committee. The Daily Notebook for 24 September 2003 summarises Parliament's Opinion as follows:

In their resolution MEPs call on the IGC not to challenge consensus reached by Convention and to approve the draft treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe “without altering its basic balance while aiming at reinforcing its coherence”.

They support the Italian Presidency's intention of winding up the proceedings by December this year. MEPs would like the new treaty to be signed by the 25 Member States on 9 May 2004, which is also “Europe Day”. If their constitutions allow, all Member States should then hold a referendum, if possible on the same day as the European elections.

Among the points to be welcomed, MEPs highlight the inclusion of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the simplification of EU acts, the abolition of the pillar structure, the wider use of the co-decision procedure and of qualified majority voting, the election of the President of the Commission by Parliament, the introduction of the citizen's right of legislative initiative, the possibility of structural co-operation in security and defence policy “while respecting Alliance commitments”, and the separation of the Euratom Treaty from the legal structure of the future Constitution.

Among the 'aspects requiring further monitoring' are the election of the President of the European Council, whose role MEPs say should be strictly limited to chairing proceedings in order to avoid any conflicts with the President of the Commission or the EU Foreign Minister. The Foreign Minister should, moreover, be supported by a joint Council-Commission administration.

MEPs also call for a more prominent role for Parliament in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and defence policy. They add that, under the budget procedure, their powers should not be reduced by comparison with the present situation. They welcome the disappearance of the link between the weighting of votes in Council and the distribution of seats in Parliament, a link laid down in the protocol to the Nice Treaty, and they suggest that the new distribution of seats in Parliament be implemented without delay.

As regards the 'shortcomings', the House voices concern about 'unsatisfactory answers to some fundamental questions', particularly regarding the consolidation of economic and social cohesion policy, the co-ordination of economic policy, the appointment of members of the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance, the continuation of unanimous voting in Council for the CFSP and certain areas of social policy. MEPs also hope that the reform of the Commission will not affect the collegiate nature of this institution and they regret that the system envisaged makes it difficult to keep a good European Commissioner for a second term. An amendment proposed aiming to recognise the Judeo-Christian values in the Constitution was rejected.'

European Commission

The Commission feels that 'A system entailing ... 'first-class' and 'second-class' Commissioners would destroy the institution's collegial nature. The result would be a loss of legitimacy and reduced effectiveness for the EU as a whole.' In its opinion [pdf] adopted on 17 September 2003 a new system of decentralised decision-making is proposed, with up to seven senior commissioners leading small teams devoted to different policy areas such as foreign affairs, home affairs or the economy. The leaders of each team might become part of an inner cabinet with the president, although that is not specifically envisaged in the paper.

(For a summary of the proposal see Commission press release and Q and A on the Commission's Opinion).

European Central Bank

The European Central Bank's opinion, adopted on 22 September 2003 'understands that the transfer of the provisions on the ECB and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) from the EC Treaty to the Constitution will not entail any changes to the substance, and that the tasks, mandate, status and legal regime of the ECB and of the ESCB remain substantially unchanged.'

Economic and Social Committee

The Economic and Social Committee (ESC) adopted an opinion on 24 September 2003. It is requesting that the ESC should be 'designated 'European Economic and Social Council', to be included in the list of institutions and bodies making up the Union's institutional framework'

Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the Regions' proposals for submission to the IGC will be debated 9 October 2003 on the basis of a report by Sir Albert Bore, the President of the Committee and Mr Bocklet, the First Vice-President.

The future

If Europe's leaders do succeed in reconciling their differences in the IGC they still have to engage the public in the debate about the new constitution. All countries will have to ratify the new Treaty, either in national parliaments or through potentially fraught referendums. Countries likely to be having referendums include Denmark, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The European Referendum Campaign's website has details of the latest position regarding a referendum in each European country.

2006 is the earliest feasible date for the treaty to come into force, once it has been ratified in all the Member States.

Further information within European Sources Online

European Sources Online: European Voice
	11.09.03:	Poles to insist on Christianity in constitution
	18.09.03:	Prodi 'playing with fire' in IGC plea, warns Dehaene
	18.09.03:	Barnier: 'Regions should be partners, not spectators'
	25.09.03:	Hold the IGC talks in 'broad daylight'
	25.09.03:	Bishops push Berlusconi on IGC

European Sources Online: Financial Times
	26.08.03:	Leaders play for high stakes in push to decide Europe's fate (comment)
	03.09.03:	Europhile finds little to love in EU treaty
	03.09.03:	Italy holds fast to text of Giscard proposals
	02.09.03:	Car chief puts case for an EU with one voice
	06.09.03:	UK demands to keep EU rebate
	08.09.03:	Germany warns on EU constitution
	09.09.03:	Finn gives voice to the fears of EU's small states
	10.09.03:	Balancing act demands strong constitution (UK government White Paper)
	10.09.03:	UK set to stand firm over NATO link in EU treaty talks
	10.09.03:	Europe must make haste slowly
	11.09.03:	Forthright Greek who helped produce European constitution believes it does not go far enough (detailed comment)
	16.09.03:	Germany to push on with two-speed Europe
	17.09.03:	Prodi plans reforms for enlarged EU
	17.09.03:	A fractured Europe: divisions deepen between big and small countries, north and south, elites and their electors (detailed)
	18.09.03:	Prodi wins praise for proposal to streamline the EU's government
	22.09.03:	Smaller EU countries dig their heels in
	25.09.03:	How to keep the balance in Europe's new treaty (Ana Palacio and Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Foreign Ministers of Spain and Poland)
	03.10.03:	Small nations square up to EU heavyweights over commissioners, voting rights and God
	06.10.03:	Ministers agree EU lawmaking will be televised
	08.10.03:	Don't overlook the small states
	09.10.03:	Britain's leaders should stand up for Europe
	10.10.03:	Reason, not emotion, will be the foundation of a new Europe

European Sources Online: In Focus
	European Commission submits its proposals to the European Convention on the Future of Europe March 2002
	Convention on the Future of Europe Draft 'EU Constitution' unveiled October 2002
	Convention on the Future of Europe: Draft of Articles 1 to 16 of 'EU Constitution unveiled' February 2003
	Convention on the Future of Europe: Giscard d'Estaing outlines proposals for future EU institutional architecture April 2003
	European Convention: some consensus, but disagreements remain, April 2003 April 2003
	European Convention's Praesidium maps out the future of the European Union, June 2003 June 2003

Further information can be seen in these external links:
(long-term access cannot be guaranteed)

EU institutions

Intergovernmental Conference - Future of the Union
NB This site is being constantly updated, with more information and links being added on a regular basis

	Home page
	Documents [all pdf files]
	02.10.03:	The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs: main points
	03.10.03:	The Council Presidency
	06.10.03:	Indicative timetable
	06.10.03:	Observations rédactionnelles et juridiques sur le projet de traité établissant une Constitution pour l'Europe - Document de base [pdf] 553 pages
	06.10.03:	Declaration of Rome
	07.10.03:	Preparation of the IGC Ministerial meeting on 14 October 2003: questionnaires (Composition of the Commission; Union Minister for Foreign Affairs)

European Central Bank

	19.09.03:	Opinion of the European Central Bank of 19 September 2003 ... on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe [pdf]
	22.09.03:	European Central Bank adopts an opinion on the draft Constitution (press release)

European Commission

	Future of Europe debate
	Homepage
	Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe [html version]
	National debates Links to websites of national governments and parliaments in the member states and candidate countries
	President Romano Prodi
	19.09.03:	Why Europe needs 25 Commissioners
	17.09.03:	Communication from the Commission: 'A Constitution for the Union', Opinion of the Commission, pursuant to Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union, on the Conference of representatives of the Member States' governments convened to revise the Treaties [pdf] Com (2003) 548 final

European Commission: DG Press and Communication: RAPID: Press releases

03.09.03:

Romano Prodi: A democratic constitution for the European Union, speech

European Commission: Secretariat General

Draft Constitution: citizens' guide [pdf]

European Convention

	Home page
	Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe [pdf] (full text)

European Council

	December 2001 Laeken Conclusions [pdf]
	June 2003 Thessaloniki Conclusions [pdf]

European Economic and Social Committee

24.09.03:

Opinion of the EESC addressed to the 2003 Intergovernmental Conference

European Parliament

	Future of Europe
	Home page (Europe2004)
	03.09.03:	News report: IGC and European constitution: EP invited to play active and vigilant role
	10.09.03:	Report on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and the European Parliament's opinion on the convening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) Doc A5 0299/2003 Rapporteurs: Jose Maria Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado, Dimitris Tsatsos
	17.09.03:	Commission adopts opinion on the European Constitution
	17.09.03:	Q and A: Opinion of the Commission on the draft European Constitution
	17.09.03:	Romano Prodi: Speaking points Commission opinion for the IGC press conference
	19.09.03:	Summary of the draft Constitution adopted by the Convention
	23.09.03:	Draft Constitution for Europe: the European Economic and Social Committee tables proposals to the IGC
	24.09.03:	European Parliament resolution on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and the EP's opinion on the convening of the Intergovernmental Conference
	24.09.03:	Daily Notebook IGC urged not to challenge consensus reached by Convention
	24.09.03:	Michel Barnier Commissaire européen responsible de la politique régionale et de la réforme des institutions Vers une Constitution européenne Avis du Parlement européen sur la conférence intergouvernementale Strasbourg, le 24 Septembre 2003 (Speech)

Italian Presidency

Intergovernmental Conference - IGC

	Home page
	Draft Constitutional Treaty [pdf]
	The Convention
	European Council, Thessaloniki, 19-20 June 2003
	Intergovernmental Conference

European Ombudsman

25.09.03:

Don't sideline citizens in the Constitution says Ombudsman

National governments

	Austria: Foreign Ministry
	25.09.03:	Ferrero-Waldner on the meeting of the 'smaller' EU member states in New York
	29.09.03:	Ferrero-Waldner in favour of improvements to EU Convention's draft constitution

Bulgaria

	Committee on European Integration
	Debate on the Future of European Union
	04.10.03:	Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg called on consensus on speedy adoption of the European Constitution

Czech Republic: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

September 2003 Meeting of 15 countries participating in the forthcoming IGC

Estonia

29.09.03:

Estonia will raise important issues at the IGC

Finland

	02.09.03:	Prime Minister at the Finnish Parliament; Government report on . the preparation for the IGC
	25.09.03:	Prime Minister Vanhanen to attend opening session of the Intergovernmental Conference in Rome

Greece: Hellenic Centre for European Studies

Newsletter about the EU and the Future of Europe

Greece: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

	Home page
	The draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union

Ireland: Department of Foreign Affairs

02.10.03:

Minister Cowen welcomes publication of National Forum on Europe's 'Summary of the Draft Constitutional Treaty for the EU'

Italy

Future of Europe: the debate in Italy

Lithuania

09.10.03:

Lithuanian priorities in upcoming GAERC meeting presented to EU ambassadors

Malta-EU Information Centre

	Intergovernmental Conference
	08.09.03:	Malta's position

Poland

	Discussion forum on IGC (in Polish)
	01.10.03:	Visegrad group PM summit prior to the Intergovernmental Conference

Portugal

Inter-Governmental Conference

Romania

	Mission of Romania to the EU
		Future of Europe

Sweden: Ministry for Foreign Affairs

	EU 2004 Committee
	02.10.03:	The Government presents its views on the future of the EU

United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

	Online consultation on the draft EU Constitutional Treaty
	The Draft Constitutional Treaty for the European Union (Text of Treaty) [pdf] Cm 5897, August 2003
	A Constitutional Treaty for the EU: the British approach to the European Union Intergovernmental Conference 2003 (White paper) [pdf] Cm 5934, 9 September 2003
	Britain and Finland: partners in this new Europe for a new era, Denis MacShane at the British Embassy, Helsinki, 05.09.03
	09.09.03:	A constitutional treaty for the EU - the UK 's approach. Statement by the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw to the House of Commons
	The Draft Constitution - a 10 point summary

United Kingdom: House of Commons: Library

	The Convention on the Future of Europe: institutional reform [pdf] 12 June 2003
	The draft Treaty establishing a European Constitution: Parts II and III [pdf] 7 July 2003
	The draft Treaty establishing a European Constitution: technical and constitutional issues in Parts I and IV [pdf] 7 July 2003

United Kingdom: House of Commons: Select Committee on European Scrutiny

	Report on the role of national parliaments, 24th report, 16.06.03
	Working Group on 'Freedom, Security and Justice' of the Convention on the Future of Europe, and the draft Treaty Articles based on it. 26th report, 03.07.03
	The Convention's proposals on criminal justice First special report, HC 1118, 25.09.03

United Kingdom: House of Lords: Select Committee on European Union

	Session 2002/2003 Home page with links to:
	04.02.03:	The Future Status of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights 6th report, HL48
	27.02.03:	The Future of Europe: Constitutional Treaty - Draft Articles 1-6 9th report, HL 61
	13.03.03:	The Future of Europe: Parliaments and Subsidiarity - the Proposed Protocols, 11th report, HL 70
	18.03.03:	The Future of Europe: Constitutional Treaty - Draft Articles 24-33 12th report, HL 71
	31.03.03:	The Future of Europe: Convention Working Group Reports on Defence and External Action 15th report, HL 80
	28.03.03:	The Future of Europe: Constitutional Treaty - Draft Article 31 and Draft Articles from Part 2 (Freedom, Security and Justice) 16th report, HL 81
	10.04.03:	The Future of Europe: Constitutional Treaty - Draft Articles 43-46 (Union Membership) and General and Final Provisions 18th report, HL 93
	15.05.03:	The Future of Europe: Constitutional Treaty - Draft Articles on the Institutions, 21st report, HL 105
	15.05.03:	The Future of Europe: Constitutional Treaty - Articles 33-37 (The Democratic Life of the Union), 22nd report, HL 106
	15.05.03:	The Future of Europe: Constitutional Treaty - Draft Articles on External Action
	18.07.03:	The Future of Europe: Progress Report on the Draft Constitutional Treaty and the IGC 35th report HL 150
	Government response to the House of Lords Report on the draft JHA articles [pdf] July 2003
	01.10.03:	Evidence by the Italian Ambassador on the Italian Presidency, 39th report, HL 164

Other external sources

BBC News Online

	14.06.03:	What the EU constitution says
	03.07.03:	Q&A: EU constitution conference
	18.07.03:	EU constitution battles loom
	01.09.03:	EU minnows plan constitution change vg source with links
	09.09.03:	Blair defends EU blueprint
	09.09.03:	Setting out the stall
	10.09.03:	(UK) Leaders clash over EU plans
	30.09.03:	Viewpoint: EU could do better (Czech Foreign Minister)
	02.10.03:	Viewpoint: EU engine due for repair (Dutch Minister for European Affiars)
	03.10.03:	Viewpoint: UK can be strong EU player (Denis Macshane)
	03.10.03:	EU Constitution - the last lap?
	04.10.03:	Tough talks open on expanded EU

European Policy Centre

	The Intergovernmental Conference explained
	Will the IGC deliver the Europe we need?
	The IGC and institutional reform

European Referendum Campaign

Home page

Friends of Europe

Home page see more links

Radio Prague

Deputy Foreign Minister: small EU countries not 'ganging up' on big ones

Royal Institute for International Relations (Belgium)

The perils of a European Constitution September 2002

Statewatch

Annotated texts of the proposed EU Constitution - links to pdf files

Trades Union Congress

04.10.03: Our Rights, Our Europe (briefing)

Vote 2004 (Campaign for a UK referendum on the European Constitution)

Home page

Rohan Bolton
European Sources Online Researcher
Compiled: 10 October 2003

Background and reporting on the week's main stories in the European Union and the wider Europe.