ANDREW DUFF URGES EUROPEAN COUNCIL TO REVISE WITH CONSTITUTION WITH NEW CONVENTION

12.57.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Jun 2005

In a speech to the European Parliament today (Wednesday) Liberal spokesman Andrew Duff has urged a revision of the Constitution via a new Convention. He said:

"The European Council on 16-17 June should decide to suspend the ratification process in order to have a real and wide ranging debate on the future of Europe. This debate should be held in the framework of a new Convention that would especially focus on the economic and social policies of the Union (Part III of the Constitution)."

"This debate cannot be undertaken by the European Council on its own, nor can it be only at the national level. It must be a European debate undertaken within the framework of a parliamentary and pluralistic Convention."

"This Convention would have a broad brief to modernise and refresh the policies of the Union. These policies need to be aligned to address the concerns and aspirations of our citizens."

"Furthermore, a proper hierarchy should be established between the different parts of the Constitution so that Part III becomes clearly subsidiary to Part I."

"The Heads of State and government have a grave responsibility in front of them next week and must live up to the challenge of keeping Europe moving forwards. Europe is not the problem, it is the solution, the only solution to the challenges we face."

ENDS/.