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PRESS RELEASE
Embargo: 08.00 Thursday 12 September 2002
BLUEPRINT FOR A FEDERAL EUROPE
A comprehensive blueprint for a federal Union of Europe is to be tabled at today's meeting of the Convention by European Liberal Democrat MEP Andrew Duff.
Duff, who chairs the Liberals in the Convention, is to unveil the first proposal for a constitution that the Convention has seen. The draft constitution has a preamble and only 19 articles.
It sets out the principles and objectives of a re-founded Union. It lays down the competences of the Union, the powers of its institutions and the instruments at their disposal.
Andrew Duff, who is also Vice-President of the European Parliament's delegation to the Convention, said:
"This draft shows what is within the grasp of the Convention. In terms of clarity, coherence and simplicity it is streaks ahead of the existing jumble of EU treaties.
"The Convention must ask itself and answer the federal questions: what is the Union for, who governs it - and how. Only if we can deliver credible answers in a literate way will the citizen better understand and trust the Union."
Duff's constitution makes a number of significant innovations:
- giving the Union the powers and resources to do a proper job at home and abroad
- simplifying law making
- rationalising decision making
- enforcing transparency in the Council
- enhancing parliamentary democracy
- making the Charter of Fundamental Rights binding
- improving citizens' access to the Court of Justice
- European Council to shape political agenda
- Council of ministers to be chaired by the Commission
- Congress of MEPs and MPs to elect Commission President
- European Parliament to be dissolved on fall of Commission
- constitutional amendments to be made by a Convention
- associate membership for countries that choose not to accept the constitution in full.
Note: 'A Model Constitution for a Federal Union of Europe' (CONV 234/02) can be found here
Contact: Andrew Duff on + 44 7703 47 16 59 or Guillaume McLaughlin on + 32 478 201 299.
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Andrew's
work
in the European Parliament since 1999
Andrew is Vice-President of the European Parliament delegation to the Constitutional Convention on the Future of Europe.
Andrew drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights which has strengthened the rights of all the citizens of the European Union.
Andrew is working for improved links between the EU and Turkey, to encourage improvements in Turkey's human rights record and to enhance its democracy.
Andrew's campaigning in the East of England
Andrew has led calls for the Air Travel industry to be subjected to the same rigorous environmental criteria as other modes of transport
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