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Brussels,
17.06.2004
A
Constitution
for the Internal Market only?
Heads
of Government must also look ahead to future referendums
The low turnout for the European elections and the success of Eurosceptic
parties has demonstrated that the process of
European integration, the most successful of all global peace projects,
has lost much of its momentum and appeal.
Who
among the European citizens would, after all, support a Union largely
perceived as the guardian of the market, privatisation and competition?
Unless
the constitution changes course and starts to demonstrate the true importance
of common values, the political Union and the social Europe, the long-term
success of the whole project will be at risk. No
political institution can prevail which has lost the support of the
citizens.
This
is why the European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW) demands
that the second attempt will ensure the following:
- that the
constitution will not renege on the binding character of the Charter
of Fundamental Rights. Legal tricks to erode and circumvent the Charter
will only serve to make the entire constitution unacceptable for the
electorate in the forthcoming referendums. The Europe-minded heads
of states and governments should not play into the hands of the enemies
of closer integration
- that a reference
to the Christian heritage will be included in the EU Constitution
- that the
constitution will not fall short of the level already reached by the
European treaties (example: the "high level of social security" of
the current treaty becomes an "appropriate level of social security"
in the draft text)
- that the
results of the Convention regarding the "social Europe" will not be
ignored or brushed aside (example: the term 'full employment' of Article
I.3 must also be integrated into Part III - social clause)
It will be,
after all, necessary in the long term to review the technical and procedural
questions (Part III of the constitution) in the light of the values
and objectives from Part I. The EU must become more active and effective
in all areas where it can provide an added European value (such as social
protection, consumer affairs, environmental issues). It will be inevitable
to increase the number of decisions settled by majority voting.
If
the constitution cannot even defend the current boundaries of the social
Europe, we will not be able to explain this to the citizens. This Friday's
decision about the text of the constitution will need to take this into
account in the light of the forthcoming referendums.
The
European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW) consists of 23
workers' organisations from 15 countries and is an association of the
European People's Party (EPP).
responsible: Christoph Weisskirchen, secretary general
EUCDW
European Union of Christian Democratic Workers
c/o EPP,
Rue du Commerce / Handelsstraat 10
B-1000 Brussels
E-mail: EUCDW
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