“Consolidating the European model of sustainable development at the economic and social level; realizing a space of security, freedom and justice; and becoming a major power”: these are the future priorities of the Union enunciated by the EU Commissioner for institutional questions, Michel Barnier, in the course of the 4th plenary session of the Convention for the future of Europe, held in Brussels on 23 and 24 May. The written contribution presented by the European Commission on 22 May (cf. SirEurope no.20/2002) was subjected to a wide-ranging debate. Positive reactions came from many of those who are in favour of the hypothesis that Europe should express itself “with a single voice”, preventing through the generalized extension of the majority vote the eventuality of one State blocking the entire decision-making process by exercising its right of veto. The debate in the plenary session saw the emergence of some views shared by a large part of the members of the Convention: in particular, the insertion in the new Treaty of a list of functions of rigid type seems now to be excluded, while the reduction of the instruments of Community action and the establishment of a mechanism for the control of the correct application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality find wide support. Almost unanimous is now the wish to define the establishment of internal work groups (with the possibility of inviting experts in each field) as early as the next plenary session of the Convention on 24 and 25 June. At the present time, there are seven work groups created by the Presidium of the Convention, respectively covering the fields of: local responsibilities and authorities; culture; social affairs; academic world; human rights; environment; and development (cf. the report on p. 8). A further group, called “European democracy”, is likely to be set up by the end of the month.
