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The EU's new Constitution:
Assessing the Environmental Perspective Reaction of the environmental organisations to the final outcome of the Convention and input to the IGC: March 17th 2004 November
26th 2003 The EU Constitution:
no steps backwards but too little progress When the Convention on the future of Europe presented its first proposal for the new EU Constitution in Spring 2003, the worst was to be expected: environment and sustainable development had almost been dropped from the Union’s objectives and the undemocratic and outdated Euratom treaty was to get new legitimisation, becoming an integral part of the new constitution. However, a coordinated lead by the Green-8 - a cooperation of 8 major European environmental networks, including Friends of the Earth Europe – achieved our aim of “no steps backwards” compared with existing treaties. A core objective for the EU of “a high level of protection and improvement in the quality of the environment” has been agreed, the integration principle has been restored and the Euratom treaty has not been fully integrated in the Convention’s final proposal. The strengthening of the European Parliament as the co-legislator in some areas, improved accountability and transparency of EU decision making as well as some progress in participatory democracy – such as a citizens’ initiative - are other positive elements in the Convention proposal. However, in many cases the Convention missed its chance to improve current treaty texts. The biggest weakness exists in the policy chapters, which were drawn from the existing European Community Treaty without being updated. As they stand, they are outdated and make EU policies like agriculture, transport, energy and development conflict with the EU’s overall objectives of sustainable development and improvement of the environment. The chapter on Agriculture, for example, still defines an “increase in agricultural productivity” as a key aim without even mentioning the need for sustainable development in rural areas. The chapter on the EU’s Common Commercial Policy still sees further trade liberalisation as an aim in itself. At the same time, decision making in several key areas, such as environmental taxes, remain the exclusive domain of the Council (with a requirement for unanimity) with no involvement of the European Parliament. The discussion on the EU Constitution will now move to the Intergovernmental Conference, which will make the final decision. We are keeping our fingers crossed that Heads of the State will make the necessary changes, so that once agreed, the first Constitution of Europe makes real sense to real people. To help explain and influence the process, the Green-8 together have issued common proposals to improve the draft European Constitution in a new publication entitled "Towards a Green Constitution - Greening the European Convention Proposal", available in English and French from the FoEE office or via www.foeeurope.org. The paper presents concrete suggestions for amendments to the text of the draft Constitution. Besides recommending changes in specific policy areas, the Green Eight are also calling for more precise language on participatory democracy and the abolition of the Euratom Treaty. Martin Rocholl Background
Articles: INPUT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS DURING THE CONVENTION: Reaction of the environmental organisations to the interim outcome of the Convention: Press
release (June 13): (Note: The Convention will continue to discuss Part III (Policies) of the Constitution and Euratom. Please refer to the relevant paper of the Green-8 below.) Assessment
of the outcome by the Green-8 (June 16) Reactions of the environmental organisations on the second draft of the Praesidium (May 31, 2003): Summary Briefing of the Green-8 (European environmental organisations)
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Press Releases
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Key documents and positions of environmental organisations (Proposals made during the Convention) |
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Summary of the demands of the environmental organisations Open letter of the environmental organisations (Green-8) to the Praesidium of the Convention (May 2003) Environment, Sustainable Development and the Constitution Open letter from the Green-8 (European environmental NGOs) to all Convention members (Feb. 2003): EU Constitution would lose public support if it forgets about the environment (press release, Feb. 2003): "Missing - Disparu": Leaflet to the Convention on the environmental integration principle (March 2003): Open letter from the Civil Society Contact Group (Feb. 2003): Reaction from the Green-8 (European environmental NGOs) to the proposals of the Commission (January 2003): Elements for a constitutional treaty proposed by the Green-8 (October 2002): Initial contribution to the Convention by the Green-8 (April 2002)
EURATOM and the Constitution 'Suggested Approach for the Euratom Treaty' by the Praesidium of the Convention (March 14, 2003) The
future of Euratom in the framework of the European Constitution Civil Society Statement on Euratom Letter
of the Green-8 to Commissioners on Euratom (March 2003) Open letter of environmental groups to Convention members on Euratom (April 2003)
in English Draft Article 1-16 presented by the Praesidium on February 6, 2003 Amendments proposed by the Green-8 (European environmental NGOs): EU Constitution would lose public support if it forgets about the environment (press release):
Articles 24-33 of the Constitution Draft Articles 24-33 presented by the Praesidium on February 26, 2003
Democratic
Life of the Union: Draft Articles 33-37 presented by the Praesidium on February 26, 2003 Open Letter of the Green-8 on Participatory Democracy (March 2003) Open
letter of the Green-8 on Patricipatory Democracy, Open letter of the Green-8 on transparent decision making (April 2003) Part
Two of the Constitution: Article 31 of Part One and draft articles from Part Two - relating to the "area of freedom, security and justice" - presented by the Praesidium on March 14, 2003 in
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