Increasing number of citizens are asking to be involved in the process through a European wide referendum. Yesterday the Italian Foreign Minister D'Alema received the first 10,000 signatures claiming for it. It's not more possible to make new institutional changes without the Parliaments and civil society participation.

We can be sure 100% reading the draft that the results of compromise will be insufficient to give Europe real power to face problems affecting European citizens. The raison is very clear: the veto vote is blocking any progress in the process. UK and Poland (but also the little Luxembourg) can stop any improvement. The only way out is to decide to drop the veto tool that give an extraordinary force to anti-European and nationalistic countries. If it will not possible to reach a political and social Europe in the framework of 27 Member States a vanguard group should be permitted to move forward.

European Union needs a new start with a wide and public debate and the active participation of European citizens. Without them our national governments cannot impose any new Treaty or Constitution what ever will be name: Mini Treaty, Reform Treaty, TEC, TEU, etc.

In the following paragraph we underline the principal aspects and changes respect to 2004 IGC.

The "Draft IGC Mandate" prepared by German Presidency and circulated before the European Council is designing a new face to Europe that in our opinion will not enhance the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the EU and will not simplify the existing treaties.

The first principle accepted by all 27 Member States is that the word and the concept of Constitution disappeared definitely from the text.

A new Treaty, named "Reform Treaty", will introduce into the existing treaties, which remain in force, the innovation results from the 2004 IGC.

It generates a complicate treaties box.

Infact the circulating proposal says that the Reform Treaty will contain two substantive clauses amending respectively the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC). The TEU will keep its present name and the TEC will be called Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

The TEU and the Treaty on the Functioning of the Union will not have a constitutional character. The term "Constitution" will not be used, the denominations "law" and "framework law" will be abandoned and the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs will be change.

All symbols creating an European identity will be deleted from the Treaty. The flag, the anthem and the motto "Unity in the diversity" will disappear.

The article on fundamental rights will contain a cross reference to the Charter on fundamental rights giving it legally binding value but concerning competences it will be specified that the Union shall act only within limits of competences conferred upon it by the Member states in the Treaties.

The national Parliaments will enhance their role: infact the period given to national parliaments to examine draft legislative texts and to give a reasoned opinion on subsidiarity will be extended from 6 to 8 weeks. And their control mechanism will be reinforced: with one third of the votes allocated to national parliaments the commission will reexamine the draft act.

It will be possible a voluntary withdrawal from the Union and the Treaties can be revised to increase or reduce the competences conferred upon the Union.

Regarding the Council vote system the introduction of the double majority has been blocked by two delegation asking for a more democratic, more transparent and more efficient Union (ridicule). The two delegation affirm that it can be achieved by degressive proportionality. This proposal came from Poland and Czech Republic.

For a new state accession the conditions of eligibility reference to the Union's will be replaced by the Union's value.

The Member States will be the masters of the Treaties: infact when a member of the Council considers that a draft legislative act would affect fundamental aspects of its social security system or criminal justice system it may request that the matter be referred to the European council. And the ordinary legislative procedure shall be suspended. And the Commission have to submit a new proposal.

That's all for the moment. Waiting for Bruxelles news.

Ballot EU referendum

Don't let the European governments decide for you. Ask your voice to be heard. Sign the petition for a European referendum:

http://www.europeanreferendum.eu

You can dowload the draft text of the IGC Mandate http://www.europeanmovement.org/news_det.cfm?news_id=492