Resolution of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Contribution to the European Council of 21 and 22 June 2007 — Roadmap for the constitutional process
Date: 2007-05-30
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: European Constitution, European Economic and Social Committee, European treaties, institutional reform

27.10.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 256/1

I

(Resolutions, recommendations and opinions)

RESOLUTIONS

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE

436th PLENARY SESSION HELD ON 30 AND 31 MAY 2007

Resolution of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Contribution to the European
Council of 21 and 22 June 2007 — Roadmap for the constitutional process’

(2007/C 256/01)

At its meeting of 29 May 2007, the Bureau of the European Economic and Social Committee decided to
present to the plenary assembly a resolution on the roadmap for the constitutional process as a contribution
to the European Council of 21 and 22 June 2007.

At its plenary session of 30 and 31 May 2007 (meeting of 30 May 2007), the European Economic and
Social Committee adopted this resolution by 171 votes to 18 with 16 abstentions.

1.
The EESC emphatically confirms its opinions on the
Constitutional Treaty of 24 September 2003 (1), 28 October
2004 (2) and 17 May 2006 (3), as well as its resolution of
14 March 2007 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the
signing of the Treaties of Rome (4). In all these opinions, the
EESC unreservedly declared its support
for the Convention
method as well as the outcome.

2.
The EESC continues to support the Constitutional Treaty,
which differs fundamentally and positively from all the institu-
tional texts hitherto produced by the various Intergovernmental
Conferences revising the Treaties of Rome in the following
ways:
it came about with the participation of national and
European parliamentarians in free and public debate; it systema-
tically summarises in one single text the entire political and
institutional arrangements as they have evolved since the estab-
lishment of the European Communities; it contains the provi-
sions for the necessary institutional and procedural reforms of
the European Union's decision-making system, describes the
objectives that the EU must pursue, states the values which
should form the foundation of its policies, and codifies the
fundamental rights that it must respect and protect.

All

this has justified calling the Convention's draft a
3.
‘Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe’. Owing to

numerous misunderstandings,
term ‘constitution’ has,
however, met with rejection in some Member States. The EESC
is not opposed to the new treaty being given a new name. The
substance is more important than the name.

the

The

following

4.
the
reasons, which
strengthening of the EU's democratic legitimacy, are of decisive
importance to the EESC, as the institutional representation of
organised civil society, for its continued support for the Consti-
tutional Treaty:

contribute

to

— The increase in the European Parliament's competences by

extending co-decision rights to new areas

— An increased involvement of the National Parliaments in the
work of the European Union by granting them the right to
monitor compliance with the principle of subsidiarity

— The improved transparency of
Council of the European Union

the proceedings of

the

(1) Opinion

addressed

to

the

Intergovernmental

Conference

(CESE 1171/2003) (OJ C 10, 14.1.2004).

(2) Opinion on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (OJ C 120,

20.5.2005).

(3) Opinion of 17 May 2006 ‘Contribution to the European Council of

15-16 June 2006 — Period of reflection’ (OJ C 195, 18.8.2006).

(4) OJ C 161, 13.7.2007.

— The strengthening of the role of autonomous social dialogue
the social partners as players in

and the recognition of
European integration

C 256/2

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Official Journal of the European Union

27.10.2007

— The recognition of the importance of participatory democ-
racy, in particular by requiring the European institutions to
maintain a transparent and regular dialogue with civil
society organisations and EU citizens

— To the same end, the granting of a right of initiative to

EU citizens.

that

The EESC points out

5.
the Heads of State or
Government of all the Member States approved the Constitu-
tional Treaty at a meeting of the European Council and formally
signed it at a ceremony in Rome on 29 October 2004.
Since then the Constitutional Treaty has also been ratified by a
two-thirds majority of the Member States with a population
representing a clear majority of the citizens of the European
Union. The EESC therefore insists that the Constitutional Treaty
must remain the basis for further discussions to solve the
present crisis.

The EESC supports the German Presidency in its intention
6.
to present a roadmap for future endeavours to solve the crisis
on the occasion of the meeting of the European Council on
21 and 22 June 2007, and welcomes the fact that in the Berlin
Declaration of 25 March 2007 the European Parliament elec-
tions of 2009 were set as a deadline for the entry into force of
the new Constitution.

that are necessary in order

7.
This means that by the end of 2007 an Intergovernmental
Conference of short duration must adopt the changes to the
to forge a new
existing draft
consensus. The mandate for this Intergovernmental Conference
will accordingly have to list precisely the few provisions on
which discussions can be reopened. The outcome would have to
be ratified by all Member States during the course of 2008.

8.
The fresh discussions on the Treaty must preserve the
substance of what was decided at the European Convention and
afterwards unanimously approved by the Heads of State and
Government. These include, first and foremost, the institutional

Brussels, 30 May 2007

and procedural innovations as well as the binding nature of the
Charter of Fundamental Rights. This means: Part I (Objectives,
Institutions, Framework of the Union), Part II (The Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the Union) and Part IV (General and
Final Provisions) must remain as they are; Part III in essence
contains the provisions of the current Treaties which relate to
the policies of the European Union which need not necessarily
form part of the new Treaty; the institutional and procedural
provisions of Part III should, where they go further than existing
law, be incorporated into Part I.

9.
The EESC will follow the work of the Intergovernmental
Conference in a constructive way. However, it also stresses that,
despite the expected short duration of the Intergovernmental
Conference and despite its limited mandate, civil society organi-
sations should be given the opportunity for consultative involve-
ment. The EESC is prepared, in cooperation with the Council
Presidency, to organise the appropriate information and consul-
tation meetings; here it can draw on its positive experience of
cooperation with the Praesidium as well as with the European
Parliament during the work of the European Convention.

There is an urgent need for a speedy resolution of the
10.
present crisis by the adoption of a treaty that meets the require-
ments of a Union of 27 Member States. For new challenges
make it essential that the European Union reaches agreements
on new policies and takes far-reaching decisions, above all with
regard to the further development of
the European social
model, of which services of general interest (SGIs) are a compo-
nent, and the strengthening of the social dimension of European
integration;
tackling the negative effects which have been
brought about by the globalisation of all economic, social and
cultural relations; promoting economic growth and strength-
ening competitiveness; tackling climate change; ensuring energy
supply; dealing with problems relating to immigration; and
combating poverty and social exclusion.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS