--- SEARCH ---
WEATHER
CHINA
INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS
CULTURE
GOVERNMENT
SCI-TECH
ENVIRONMENT
LIFE
PEOPLE
TRAVEL
WEEKLY REVIEW
Learning Chinese
Learn to Cook Chinese Dishes
Exchange Rates
Hotel Service


Hot Links
China Development Gateway
Chinese Embassies

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation
Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the UN
Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland
Foreign Affairs College
Institute of American Studies Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
EU Parliament Leader Endorses Draft European Constitution
European Parliament President Pat Cox said Thursday that a draft constitutional treaty drawn up by the Convention on the Future of Europe "is a clear and balanced" result for establishing a constitution for an enlarged European Union (EU), which will embrace 10 new members next May.

The EU assembly chief told leaders from the bloc's 25 current and future member states that the convention produced a constitutional blueprint with a broad institutional balance after 16-month efforts made by 105 drafters led by former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing.

Citing key achievements by the EU convention, Cox said the draft proposes a legal personality for the "ever closer union," simplifies decision-making system, provides adequate controls between EU institutions and national governments, clarifies "who does what," and provides for "a unified foreign affairs structure" under a foreign minister at the EU level.

Governments of EU member states will have final say about the draft Treaty Establishing Constitution for Europe. They will start in October to negotiate the details of the draft constitution at an intergovernmental conference (IGC) expected to end in next May.

In his opening speech at the EU summit in Salonika, the second largest city of Greece, Cox said the IGC will be concluded "in good time before the 2004 European (Parliament) elections."

"Having the treaty agreed well before the next European (Parliament) elections is important. Our citizens have the right to know what they are voting for, what role this parliament is destined to have in the wider Europe," Cox said at the beginning of the EU summit being held in Greece, the current EU presidency holder, from Thursday to Saturday.

"I also hope that the new treaty can contribute to making the next elections to the European Parliament the first real European elections," the president added.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2003)

Iran Assures Greece, EU of Its Power-generating Nuclear Program
Most Russians Favor Joining EU: Poll
Poles Vote 'Yes' for EU Membership
Unmanned Spacecraft Blasts off for Mars
EU Assures Romania of Accession in 2007
Print This Page
|
Email This Page
About Us SiteMap Feedback
Copyright © China Internet Information Center. All Rights Reserved
E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-68326688