PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Europaudvalget 2003-04
EUU Alm.del Bilag 248
Offentligt

KONFERENCEN

MELLEM REPRÆSENTANTERNE

FOR MEDLEMSSTATERNES

REGERINGER

Bruxelles, den 24. november 2003 (25.11)

(OR. en)

CIG 53/03

DELEG 28

FØLGESKRIVELSE

fra:

Benelux-landenes delegationer

Vedr.:

RK 2003

– Bidrag fra Benelux-landenes delegationer vedrørende proceduren for valg af for-

manden for Det Europæiske Råd og valg til andre poster i EU-institutionerne samt

proceduren for valg af formanden for Europa-Kommissionen

Vedlagt følger til delegationerne et bidrag fra Benelux-landenes delegationer samt et ledsagende

brev vedrørende proceduren for valg af formanden for Det Europæiske Råd og valg til andre poster

i EU-institutionerne samt proceduren for valg af formanden for Europa-Kommissionen.

________________________

CIG 53/03

hm/MK/lsn

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

BILAG

His Excellency Franco Frattini

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Rome

The Hague, 18 November 2003

On behalf of the Benelux countries we would like to put forward two draft protocols on (1) the

procedure for the election of the President of the European Council and other office-holders of EU

institutions and (2) the procedure for the election of the President of the European Commission.

Both in the Convention and in the IGC the Benelux countries have made joint proposals on

institutional issues. These proposals were based on the conviction that the institutions that guard the

general interest of the Union have to be strengthened. Reinforcement of the community method was

- and still is - the guiding principle of the Benelux. In our view the attached proposals are in line

with this principle, without undermining the institutional balance arrived at in the Convention.

The Benelux countries will table these two proposals at the Focal Points Meeting in Rome on 20

and 21 November 2003. We trust that you will include them in the agenda for the Ministerial

Conclave in Naples on 28 and 29 November 2003 and allow room for discussion on each of them.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

Minister of Foreign Affairs

of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Atzo Nicolaï

Minister for European Affairs

of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

CIG 53/03

hm/MK/lsn

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

“Equal access” to office of the elected President of the European Council

Principles underpinning the election to the office of President of the European Council and other

office-holders of EU institutions

The draft Treaty states that the European Council shall elect its President. The Convention

concentrated its work on the extent of the President’s powers and duties whereas the procedure for

electing the President and the principles that should be observed in the election process have not

been thoroughly discussed. Therefore the Benelux countries suggest to take up the matter during the

Intergovernmental Conference. The debate should also include the principles guiding the election to

other top EU office-holders and in particular the President of the Commission and the Union

Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Benelux countries do not wish to alter the provision in the draft Treaty. What they suggest is to

embody in a Protocol existing election practice which takes into account the geographical and

demographic diversity of the Union and its member states.

Protocol on the election of the President of the European Council and other office-holders of

EU institutions

The High Contracting Parties,

Desiring to ensure in a Protocol the principles guiding the election of the President of European

Council and other top office-holders of EU institutions

Have reached agreement on the following provision, which shall be appended to the Treaty

establishing a constitution for Europe

Article 1.

1. The election of the President of the European Council shall be considered in conjunction with

the election of the President of the European Commission and the appointment of the Union

Minister for Foreign Affairs. During the elections to these offices, the geographical and

demographic diversity of the Union and its member states has to be respected.

CIG 53/03

hm/MK/lsn

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Procedure for the election of the President of the European Commission

Principles underpinning the election of the President of the European Commission

The Benelux countries feel that the discussion in the Convention on the issue of the procedure for

the election of the President of the European Commission has resulted in a better procedure than the

one provided for in the current Treaty. Nevertheless we think it can be further improved. This can

be done by intensifying the prescribed consultation between the European Council and the

European Parliament, without, however, altering the institutional balance contained in the

Convention outcome. Thus their joint responsibility for the success of the entire process will be

increased, which will be an improvement for all concerned. The draft-protocol set out below is an

elaboration of the procedure as foreseen by the draft Conventional Treaty. It determines the

principles underpinning the appropriate consultations between the European Council and the

European Parliament as mentioned in article 26, paragraph 1, of the draft-Treaty.

Protocol concerning the principles underpinning the procedure for the election of the President of

the European Commission

The High Contracting Parties,

In order to intensify the co-operation between the European Council and the European Parliament in

the procedure for the election of the President of the European Commission and thereby increasing

their joint responsibility for the success of the entire process,

Desiring to determine the principles underpinning the appropriate consultations between the

European Council and the European Parliament as mentioned in article 26, paragraph 1, of the

Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe,

Have reached agreement on the following provision, which shall be appended to the Treaty

establishing a constitution for Europe.

CIG 53/03

hm/MK/lsn

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Article 1

1. In the procedure for the election of the President of the European Commission, the European

Council and the European Parliament are summoned to have appropriate consultations.

2. Appropriate consultations shall in any event include:

a joint debate by the European Parliament and the European Council on the President’s

profile; and, subsequently,

the drawing up of the profile by the European Parliament on the basis of which the

European Council proposes a candidate

3. The European Council and the European Parliament will, within one year after entering into

force of the Treaty, conclude an Inter-institutional Agreement in which the arrangements for

appropriate consultations are established in detail, on the basis of the principles mentioned in

paragraph two.

============

CIG 53/03

hm/MK/lsn