WRITTEN QUESTION E-2613/02 by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Convention on the future of the European Union.
Date: 2002-09-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, European Union, European convention, European integration, cooperation policy, economic integration, foreign policy, intergovernmental conference (EU), revision of the Treaty (EU), social integration

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/99

(2003/C 137 E/112)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2613/02

by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: Convention on the future of the European Union

The European Council
in Laeken decided to convene a Convention to which it assigned the task of
outlining the future shape of the European Union. The conclusions of the Convention will serve as a basis
for the deliberations of the Intergovernmental Conference on the revision of the Treaties scheduled for
2004.

During the first phase of the deliberations (cid:1) the listening phase (cid:1) various bodies submitted contributions.
The Commission itself submitted to the Convention last May its thoughts on the fundamental tasks of the
Union and the constitutional framework appropriate for carrying them out. These observations were far-
ranging and highly relevant.

The various contributions received by the Convention during the listening phase, which came to an end
last July, already suggest specific guidelines for the ultimate approach to the various issues under debate.

Can the Commission therefore say:

1. what its position is on the guidelines which are beginning to emerge regarding the various issues to be

tackled by the Convention;

2. whether it intends to express an official opinion at this stage in the deliberations and send the
Convention further observations on the specific issues raised in the context of the broad listening
exercise carried out?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2002)

The Commission gives its opinion on the various questions which the Convention is called on to consider
when they are raised in the plenary session or in the working parties, via statements by its representatives
in the Convention. The Commission is planning to follow up its Communication of 22 May 2002,
‘A Project for the European Union’ (1), with a Communication dealing more specifically with institutional
matters.

(1) COM(2002) 247 final.

(2003/C 137 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2621/02

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(12 September 2002)

Subject: Benefits of liberalisation and costs of protectionism

On 4 July this year the Commission submitted individual requests to 109 member countries of the WTO,
asking them to reduce or eliminate barriers to the free movement of services and make access to those
markets easier.

Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) what the requests submitted contained and what requests have been received so far in response,
specifying the sectors and countries to which they were submitted and from which they were received;

(cid:1) whether it has assessed the scale of the benefits, in terms of export growth, the EU would enjoy if the
requests are accepted; on the other hand what the benefits (cid:1) and hence the costs if the requests are
not accepted (cid:1) would be for the third countries if their requests to the EU are granted;