COUNCIL OF MINISTERS: DEBATE ON THE EU'S FUTURE AND THE PLACE OF CANDIDATE COUNTRIES.

• Position: Brief Article

Ministers examined the questions surrounding the Declaration of Laeken on the future of Europe, and, according to the Council's conclusions, they have reached a general agreement which was evident after the Genval meeting, that a Convention to prepare the next IGC in 2004 was needed. As for the participants, there should be 15 national governmental representatives, 30 parliamentary members, 16 from the European Parliament and one from the Commission. A President will be found at the Laeken meeting, who will be surrounded by a Presidium made up of at least one representative from each component of the Convention and served by a secretariat sent by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. The Council has also found common ground on the constitutions of candidate countries, who will be working closely with those at the Convention with one representative alongside those from countries that are already members (this means the twelve current candidates currently in negotiation and Turkey). Furthermore, it was agreed to involve the EU at large in the process, through a structure of organisations representing the wider community on a national or European level. This will be analysed by the Convention...