The network of political representatives composing the Initiative for a European Constituent Assembly is extremely concerned by Angela Merkel's intention to re-open discussions on the European Constitution on the basis of secret negotiations carried out without the people's knowledge. This opaque and non-democratic method was clearly rejected by the NO votes expressed during the French and Dutch referendums. In several EU countries, the YES vote was obtained through parliament and no real citizens' debate was organised. In other countries, the referendum votes originally planned were cancelled as public opinion became increasingly hostile to the Constitution.

The European Union needs a Constitution which allows for the people to express their opinion democratically in order to elaborate European policies which respect the interests of the majority of the people. What Europe does not need is yet another arrangement signed behind the peoples' backs.

With the recent election of Nicolas Sarkozy to the French Presidency, Angela Merkel has found a partner to support the renewal of obscure negotiations for a new draft Constitution. Nicolas Sarkozy has clearly announced that he will not organise a new referendum on the adoption of a new Treaty concerning the EU's institutions.

The Initiative for a European Constituent Assembly wishes to remind Mr Sarkozy and Ms Merkel that :



    

  • Any text regulating the competences of the European institutions automatically takes on a constitutional status. Hence it must be subject to debate and adopted by the citizens themselves under the form of a genuine Constitution.
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  • The European Union will not recover its legitimacy amongst the people if it rejects its citizens by refusing them the right to decide through a constituent process.
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  • The inefficiency of the intergovernmental negotiation method has been widely proved. The contradictions between different national or institutional positions can only be resolved by the expression of the citizens' opinion.
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More than ever, it is now clear that the only method capable of obtaining the consent of the citizens in order to relaunch the European construction process democratically is to convoke a European Constituent Assembly. It is the only choice which guarantees transparency, which respects the people's sovereign opinion, which allows for European policies to be reoriented for the benefit of the majority of the people and which restores the efficiency of a European Union which threatens to become powerless and eventually paralysed.




Jean-Luc Mélenchon (PS Senator, Former Minister, France)




Oskar Lafontaine (Spokesperson for the Die Linke Group in theBundestag, Former SPD Président, Former Minister of Finances, Germany)




Erik Wesselius, (Spokesperson of the NO campaign in Holland)




Juan-Antonio Barrio (Izquierda Socialista-PSOE, Spain)




Vicént Garcés (Izquierda Socialista-PSOE, Spain)




Jean-Maurice Dehousse (Former Minister, Former Member of the European Parliament, PS, Belgique)




Henri Wehenkel (Déi Lenk, Luxembourg)




Miguel Portas (MEP, Left Bloc, Portugal)




Fiona Dove (Director, TNI, Hollande)




Riccardo Petrella (Professor, expert to the Europea n Commission, Italy)




Thomas Wallgren (Professor,  SPD candidate, Finlande)




François Delapierre (General Delegate, PRS, France)




Raquel GARRIDO (Coordinator  - Initiative for a European Constituent Assembly)




Press Contact  : Raquel Garrido + 33 6 63 38 70 68