Clash looms between big and small states on reform

Date: 31/10/02

By Dana Spinant

VALERY Giscard d'Estaing, chairman of the Convention on the future of the EU, witnessed a mounting clash between small and large member states over major reforms of the Union at last week's Brussels summit.

His report on the progress of the Convention, presented to government leaders last Thursday (24 October), sparked strong reactions from the small countries but left representatives of the large indifferent.

During a debate that followed his update, the leaders of Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal opposed any weakening of the European Commission and the Parliament in EU decision-making.

They warned that they would not accept an outcome which did not reinforce the 'Community method'.

Guy Verhofstadt, prime minister of Belgium, said a strong Commission and equality among member states was crucial.

Although he did not specifically refer to the idea of electing an EU president, Verhofstadt hinted that such plans would be harmful.

The leaders of Spain, Germany and the UK made no comment following Giscard's presentation; French President Jacques Chirac restricted himself to a polite, vague reference to the important role of the Convention without addressing concrete issues.

Giscard urged the 15 leaders to actively support, through their representatives on the forum, efforts to simplify the existing decision-making procedures and clarify the structure of the EU treaties.

Feedback was vital, he added, as national leaders will have the final word on the constitutional treaty proposed by the Convention. Giscard said he hoped the treaty would be accepted swiftly without new negotiations on its content.

The Brussels summit was the opportunity for the former French president to confirm that the plan to elect an EU president, openly endorsed by France, Spain and the UK, with discreet support from Germany, will not receive the backing of smaller states.

Report of the reaction of Member States to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's presentation on the progress of the Convention at the European Council, Brussels, 24-25 October 2002.