IGC Must Not Unpick The Draft Constitution

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 3rd Sep 2003

Andrew Duff MEP, Chair of the Liberal caucus in the Convention, today, Wednesday 3 September, made a strong endorsement of the result of the Convention at the European Parliament.

In his intervention, Duff said.

"The Convention achieved one sophisticated and comprehensive package deal which must now be protected against those who wish to diminish the European Union. This single package is the optimum solution possible in present circumstances and must not be unpicked as the IGC will produce something distinctly sub-optimal resulting in a Nice II rather than a Constitution I.

"Furthermore, if the IGC were to unpick the Convention's proposal it would subvert the very concept of the Convention itself, which is a big breakthrough for parliamentary democracy in Europe.

"Where the Convention reached no consensus, however, the IGC can focus its efforts. It is essential to have softer revision procedures in Part IV where a shift in competences is not involved.

"We also need a sensible contingency plan if the entry into force of the new constitutional settlement is frustrated by accident or design."

Andrew Duff finished by saying.

"The European Parliament has the responsibility as guarantor of the Convention's result - and all attempts to open up the constitution for renegotiation must be fought."