EU: The latest draft of a constitution for the European Union calls for sweeping changes to the EU's institutions and a clearer definition of their relationship with national governments.
However, the draft abandons some of the most controversial proposals presented to the Convention on the Future of Europe and tones down some of the more ambitious plans to extend the EU's powers.
The draft constitution, which will be revised by the 105-member convention before being presented to EU leaders next month, begins with a definition of the EU and its objectives.
"Reflecting the will of the citizens and states of Europe to build a common future, this constitution establishes the European Union, on which the member-states confer competences to attain objectives they have in common," it says.
The convention's 12-person presidium published the first of three parts of the proposed constitution in Brussels yesterday, leaving the convention just three weeks to agree on a final version. But the presidium was unable to agree on a revised version of proposals to reform the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, where national governments meets.
Mr John Bruton TD, who is a member of the presidium, acknowledged that the body was divided over whether to reopen a deal agreed at Nice on representation in the three institutions. "The presidium is divided. About half of the presidium wants to reopen it and the other half, including myself, does not want to reopen it," he said.
The draft articles on institutional reform are unchanged from those presented to the convention earlier this month by its chairman, Mr Valery Giscard d'Estaing. They envisage the abolition of the six-month, rotating EU presidency and the appointment of an EU president for up to five years.
The Commission would be reduced to 15 members, including the Commission President and an EU foreign minister.
It has now been left to the convention's members to agree a compromise that will satisfy both the EU's big states, most of which support Mr Giscard's proposals for institutional reform and the small countries, most of which oppose them.
"There are still big differences . . . What I understood is that there will not be another debate on institutions this week," said Mr Stefaan De Rynck, a spokesman for the executive European Commission. "It's certainly true time is starting to press."
Mr Bruton said that, despite the presidium's divisions over the future of EU institutions, the latest draft represented a major improvement on earlier proposals. He said that further articles to be published today will meet Irish concerns on the issue of tax policy and rules of criminal procedure. The articles will introduce qualified majority voting on some tax issues but only if all countries agree on what those issues are.
On rules of criminal procedure, there will be minimum standards but countries will be free to employ higher standards if they choose.
Mr Bruton said the articles released today will make clear that the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which constitutes part two of the three-part treaty, will apply to EU law but not to national law.
Mr Bruton expressed disappointment that the convention had not made greater progress towards making the EU more democratic but he said that the new constitution would bring the EU closer to its citizens.
"I think the draft is extremely good at simplifying the way the EU works and explaining it. That makes it much more possible for citizens to engage," he said.
The convention will enter an intense period of consultation during the next three weeks before the final draft of the constitution is presented to EU leaders in Thessaloniki on June 20th.
There will be months of negotiations on the constitution between governments later this year before it is agreed, probably early next year. A number of countries, including Ireland, will hold referendums before ratifying the new constitution.
It is hoped a final agreement can be reached by the end of the year after an inter-governmental conference in the autumn.