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"EU Constitutional Convention divided over powers, religion"

by Constant Brand (AP, January 21, 2003)

The European Union's constitutional convention was showing strains Tuesday after a contentious two-day debate that ranged from how powers should be divided within the EU to whether the final document, due in June, should mention God.

Divisions between larger EU states, who want the role of national governments strengthened, and smaller ones wanting a more federal Europe were laid bare after a Franco-German blueprint was slammed by the majority of the 105 convention members, drawn from national capitals and EU institutions.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin was quick to defend the plan, which calls for the EU to adopt a new, high-profile EU president who would represent national governments for a term of up to five years.

Currently, the EU presidency rotates every six months among member states and works alongside the president of the EU's executive office, the European Commission.

"The union needs more effectiveness," said de Villepin. "Changing presidencies every six months leads to instability, and leads to more difficulties (for the EU) on the world stage."

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer acknowledged that while the blueprint was not perfect and did not go far enough, "Europe's role in the world would be strengthened" by the plan.

Only a handful of some 60 speakers came out in support of the Franco-German plan during the contentious debate. The convention chair, former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, concluded agreement was far off.

"It is not a question of opening some confrontational debates. We have to think about making progress," he said.

A draft of the articles outlining powers of EU institutions was supposed to be ready by the end of January, but the convention's vice chairman, former Italian Prime Minister Guiliano Amato, said the issues were too complex to meet that deadline.

The constitution is expected to result in the most sweeping organizational changes in the EU since its founding in 1957. The final draft, to be unveiled in June, will go to EU leaders for evaluation.

Meanwhile an attempt to include a strongly worded reference to Christianity within the EU constitution created further problems.

The proposal submitted by 20 members did not specifically name any religion, but refers to the importance of Europe's "spiritual and moral heritage" and says the EU's values include "those who believe in God as the source of truth, justice, good and beauty."

But several members of the convention maintained that the EU's constitution should remain secular.

"It is a stupid idea," said Czech parliamentarian Jan Zahradil. "This will only provoke disagreements. There should be no direct link to religion at all."

Former Irish Prime Minister John Bruton defended the reference, saying it would reflect what was already in place within many European constitutions. "There are very few constitutions that do not have reference to God. This proposal is right to be put forward."

The EU convention has come under heavy lobbying from the Vatican and Protestant churches over the past few months.