# Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe/Preamble

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF DENMARK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC, HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF SPAIN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUKE OF LUXEMBOURG, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY, THE PRESIDENT OF MALTA, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS, THE FEDERAL PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND, THE PRESIDENT OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,
DRAWING INSPIRATION from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, from which have developed the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law,
BELIEVING that Europe, reunited after bitter experiences, intends to continue along the path of civilisation, progress and prosperity, for the good of all its inhabitants, including the weakest and most deprived; that it wishes to remain a continent open to culture, learning and social progress; and that it wishes to deepen the democratic and transparent nature of its public life, and to strive for peace, justice and solidarity throughout the world,
CONVINCED that, while remaining proud of their own national identities and history, the peoples of Europe are determined to transcend their former divisions and, united ever more closely, to forge a common destiny,
CONVINCED that, thus 'United in diversity', Europe offers them the best chance of pursuing, with due regard for the rights of each individual and in awareness of their responsibilities towards future generations and the Earth, the great venture which makes of it a special area of human hope,
DETERMINED to continue the work accomplished within the framework of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and the Treaty on European Union, by ensuring the continuity of the Community acquis,
GRATEFUL to the members of the European Convention for having prepared the draft of this Constitution on behalf of the citizens and States of Europe,
HAVE DESIGNATED AS THEIR PLENIPOTENTIARIES:
HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS,
    Guy VERHOFSTADT
    Prime Minister
    Karel DE GUCHT
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC,
    Stanislav GROSS
    Prime Minister
    Cyril SVOBODA
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF DENMARK,
    Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN
    Prime Minister
    Per Stig MØLLER
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,
    Gerhard SCHRÖDER
    Federal Chancellor
    Joseph FISCHER
    Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Federal Chancellor
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA,
    Juhan PARTS
    Prime Minister
    Kristiina OJULAND
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,
    Kostas KARAMANLIS
    Prime Minister
    Petros G. MOLYVIATIS
    Minister of Foreign Affairs
HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF SPAIN,
    José Luis RODRÍGUEZ ZAPATERO
    President of the Government
    Miguel Angel MORATINOS CUYAUBÉ
    Minister for External Affairs and Cooperation
THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,
    Jacques CHIRAC
    President
    Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN
    Prime Minister
    Michel BARNIER
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND,
    Bertie AHERN
    Taoiseach
    Dermot AHERN
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,
    Silvio BERLUSCONI
    Prime Minister
    Franco FRATTINI
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS,
    Tassos PAPADOPOULOS
    President
    George IACOVOU
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA,
    Vaira VĪĶE FREIBERGA
    President
    Indulis EMSIS
    Prime Minister
    Artis PABRIKS
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA,
    Valdas ADAMKUS
    President
    Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS
    Prime Minister
    Antanas VALIONIS
    Minister of Foreign Affairs
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUKE OF LUXEMBOURG,
    Jean-Claude JUNCKER
    Prime Minister, Ministre d'Etat
    Jean ASSELBORN
    Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY,
    Ferenc GYURCSÁNY
    Prime Minister
    László KOVÁCS
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF MALTA,
    The Hon Lawrence GONZI
    Prime Minister
    The Hon Michael FRENDO
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS,
    Dr. J. P. BALKENENDE
    Prime Minister
    Dr. B. R. BOT
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE FEDERAL PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,
    Dr. Wolfgang SCHÜSSEL
    Federal Chancellor
    Dr. Ursula PLASSNIK
    Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND,
    Marek BELKA
    Prime Minister
    Włodzimierz CIMOSZEWICZ
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,
    Pedro Miguel DE SANTANA LOPES
    Prime Minister
    António Victor MARTINS MONTEIRO
    Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Portuguese Communities
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA,
    Anton ROP
    President of the Government
    Ivo VAJGL
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC,
    Mikuláš DZURINDA
    Prime Minister
    Eduard KUKAN
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,
    Matti VANHANEN
    Prime Minister
    Erkki TUOMIOJA
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,
    Göran PERSSON
    Prime Minister
    Laila FREIVALDS
    Minister for Foreign Affairs
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,
    The Rt. Hon Tony BLAIR
    Prime Minister
    The Rt. Hon Jack STRAW
    Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
WHO, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows: