WRITTEN QUESTION E-3060/02

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Council

(25 October 2002)

Subject: European Convention

In an interview published in the Financial Times on 7 October 2002, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, chairman of the Convention on the Future of Europe, which has a remit to draft a European Constitution, stressed that he was opposed to any increase in the powers of the Commission and was in favour of greater cooperation between the governments of the Member States, which must remain sovereign. This unmistakably shows that the chairman of the Convention advocates a confederative model.

Does this confederationist approach espoused by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing coincide with the Council's approach?

What is the Council's view of the suggestion by the chairman of the Convention that the name European Union could possibly be replaced with the name United Europe, which according to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing would be closer to the citizens?

Reply

(20 February 2003)

The Council never comments on statements made to the press. It has not taken a view on the discussions currently underway within the Convention, nor would it be appropriate for it to do so. The choice of a model for a future Europe or the suggestion of a possible change to the name of the European Union were put forward by the President of the Convention on his own initiative. The Council has neither discussed nor taken a view on these issues.