THE PROPOSED TREATY ESTABLISHING A CONSTITUTION FOR EUROPE

The Inter-Parliamentary Research Network (IPRN) comprises of researchers from the Research and Library Services of the legislatures in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). IPRN aims both to raise the standard of research in UK and ROI legislatures through the sharing of ideas and good practice, and to facilitate work on common issues. Briefings are produced as a collaborative effort, and are jointly published. This briefing is intended for Members of the UK legislatures to facilitate their participation in the current debate about the proposed “draft Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe” (the draft Treaty), which was formulated by the Convention on the Future of Europe in 2002-03, and now forms the basis for negotiations at the on-going InterGovernmental Conference (IGC). The briefing outlines a number of key EU and UK developments that helped shape the draft Treaty. From a national and/or regional perspective, these developments include: past EU Treaty developments; European Court of Justice (ECJ) decisions; past proposals of a constitutional nature; EU enlargement; the Future of Europe debate (including the Convention and its work); governmental action across the UK (executive and legislative); and the current IGC. It also addresses ratification of the draft Treaty, highlighting the different procedures in individual Member and Acceding States, and in particular, considers the possible issue of a UK referendum on the draft Treaty. Subsequent briefings will follow in the coming months. Briefings 2-5 will provide comparative information in relation to various submissions made to the Convention, and specific draft Treaty proposals that concern: the division of competencies (Briefing 2); regional interests/concerns (Briefing 3); the exit clause and ‘mutual solidarity’ (Briefing 4); and the Charter of Fundamental Rights and references to God/religion (Briefing 5). Briefing 6 – the final briefing - will review the outcome of the IGC.