European Liberal Democrats attack government apathy on EU constitution

2.22.48pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 9th Jun 2006

The European Parliament should push the European Council to take decisive action on the constitutional crisis when it meets next week (15-16 June).

Andrew DUFF (UK, Lib Dem), Liberal spokesman on constitutional affairs, argues that the Parliament has a choice between leading the drive to save the Constitution or succumbing to the same apathy as the European Council and Commission.

He adds that although Finland is right to pursue ratification of the 2004 constitutional treaty in view of its incoming presidency of the Council, that will only bring to 16 the number of member states able to complete the ratification process.

In a statement today, DUFF said: "Everyone says in private that the present text cannot come into force. Now is the time to admit this publicly. The European Council should set itself a rendezvous in the autumn of 2007 to convene a new Intergovernmental Conference. The extended period of reflection should be used to prepare the mandate for that IGC."

"The heads of government should confirm their commitment to the constitutional project especially in the presence of Polish prime minister Marcinkiewicz and Czech president Klaus, whose Euroscepticism is notorious."

"The European Council should also come out firmly against all simplistic solutions, such as cherry-picking and core group formations".

The ALDE Group has tabled a number of amendments to the Parliament's motion for a resolution on the period of reflection which will be voted next week in Strasbourg.

Key amendment 4 (to para. 6) calls on the European Council to 'recognise that the 2004 Constitution cannot come into force without modification'.

Key amendment 5 (to para. 7) invites all the EU institutions to 'analyse how the dissent expressed by public opinion in France, the Netherlands and elsewhere can be genuinely addressed by making both structural and substantive improvements to the 2004 Constitution'.