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Live Webcast: The Future of Europe

A Director's Forum with Ambassador John Bruton, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the United States. Video of this event is now available.

Date & Time

Thursday
Mar. 3, 2005
8:00am – 9:00am ET

Overview

In this Director's Forum, Ambassador John Bruton focused his remarks on the European Union constitution which member states are now ratifying, some by referendum, others by parliamentary vote. The constitution, according to Bruton, describes what the EU is and "EU citizens are now being asked essentially to endorse what they already created." While the document is technically a 'constitutional treaty,' Bruton acknowledged that it is normally referred to as the European constitution.

He began by noting that all EU treaties, including the Treaty of Rome, have been of a constitutional character, having primacy over the laws of the member states. The difference with the new constitution is that all these treaties would be brought into one document, thus making EU law much more simple and accessible.

Although 90 percent of the constitution is based on existing treaty law, there are several new elements:

1. A single foreign minister that will represent the EU to the world. The EU now has 2--a foreign minister for the Council of Ministers and a foreign minister for the Commission.
2. Armaments Agency—for setting standards for and coordinating research into and assisting to buy armaments for the protection and security of Europe
3. A strengthened ability to deal with cross-border crime
4. Making of law will begin at the national level. Every draft law will first be sent to the parliament of each of the 25 member states for a vote before it comes to the EU. That means that there will be a debate on the national level on every EU law.
5. Transparency---The Council of Ministers (the equivalent of the U.S. Senate) will have to make their meetings public.
6. Charter of fundamental rights---Each member state must implement EU laws with regard to the fundamental rights of the European citizen which includes human dignity, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. A member state that departs from these fundamental values will suspend their membership in the EU.
7. The constitution explicitly allows countries to withdraw. In referring to those member states that seem to be in constant crisis of whether to remain a member, Bruton said, "The existence of an open door may help to concentrate the mind."

On the question of whether the EU will be creating a "super state" or a federalist system like that of the U.S., Bruton answered no for the following reasons:
1. The EU does not have the right to taxation.
2. The EU may not run a budget deficit.
3. The EU has no right to raise a military force distinct from the resources of the member states.
4. The EU may spend only 1.27 cents for every Euro.

In closing, Bruton characterized the EU as "a democratic space where people make decisions about their future where it goes beyond the borders of a member state." He considers the EU as responding to a genuine human need: "Because there is a sense that some forces in the world are too great----forces of disease, fanaticism, money-- even to the biggest state to control on their own. But if states are to come together to control these forces, they need to do so in a democratic element. The EU is such an endeavor."

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