convention-file fact" "
The President of the Convention on the future of Europe Valery Giscard D’Estaing convened the Presidium on 22 and 23 April to complete the draft of the articles of the European Constitution relating to the Institutions. However, even before the meeting had begun, surprises were not lacking : Giscard proposes to flank the President of the European Council with a Vice-President, and to establish an Executive Council of seven members (President, Vice-President, EU Foreign Minister, four Heads of Government or Ministers of the national governments in rotation; the Commission, in turn, would be composed of a President, two Vice-Presidents (one of whom would coincide with the EU Foreign Minister) and ten Commissioners. Giscard also proposes the setting up of a European Congress, composed of European and national parliamentarians, with a consultative character, but with the power to elect the President of the Union.
