Brussels, 2007-06-23

After months of secret Sherpa negotiations outside of parliamentary control, European leaders came together to this weekend's EU summit to fix the institutional impasse for the better - or worse. The further weakening of the frail Constitutional Treaty is the ultimate evidence of the Union's biggest structural problem: The right of every random government to stop Europe from moving forward and tackling the challenges of our future.

Just few hours before the European Council kick off (with the aim to relaunch the European constitutional process after two years reflection) the new cafebabel blog "Europefrombelow" unveils to European citizens the draft IGC mandate. It's the document prepared behind close doors by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The draft IGC mandate "sous embargo" is widely circulating since yesterday through the press and the internet.

As the European Parliament debates the Report on the roadmap for the Union's Constitutional Process this afternoon, the Young European Federalists point out the shortcomings of the EP's standpoint. JEF Europe expects the parliamentary representatives of the European citizens to live up to their mission in a more responsible way than with this tame resolution almost 6 month late.

Simply imagine how the US would react if Russia or China or Iran or in fact any foreign power dared even to think about placing a missile defense system at or near the borders of the US, let alone carrying out such plans. In these unimaginable circumstancse, a violent US reaction would be not only almost certain but also understandable. for reasons that are simple and clear.

50 years have been passed since the Rome Treaties signatures in 1957.

Now after half century we can say that functionalistic method is not more able to give sufficient fuel to finish the constituent process started with the European Convention. Angela Merkel is trying to give an impulse to the European Constitution but the road towards a political integration is opposed by newcomers (Poland and Czech Republic) and oldcomers (UK). The way out is not the suggested Mini-Treaty without common European flag and hymn, without the Fundamental rights' charter and without calling for a European citizens' intervention.