The 13th plenary session of the Convention on the future of Europe tackled for the first time the issue of the reform of the Union’s institutional architecture. The debate had as its focal point the Franco-German document that proposes the election of a President of the European Council “for a long term” (from 2.5 to 5 years). But the proposal did not meet with wide support, with the exception of the representatives of the governments of France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. Still very much on the Convention agenda is the question of the possible inclusion in the constitutional Treaty of a reference to the Christian roots of Europe and to the heritage of religions. In this regard the Spanish foreign minister and member of the presidium of the Convention Ana de Palacio argued that a direct reference to God and to religions is “not necessary”, even though “Europe owes a lot to the Judeo-Christian tradition; such a reference could therefore be inserted in the Preamble to the Constitution”.
