(17/06/05) Uitstel ratificatie Grondwet - Simpel uitstel voldoet niet, EU-leiders moeten luisteren naar bevolking

• 2005-06-17

EU Summit: "EU leaders must now show they are listening to the citizens"

Commenting on the decision of EU leaders to extend the deadline for ratifying the Constitution by one year, Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Monica Frassoni, Co-Presidents of the Greens/EFA group today said:
"The EU's leaders cannot simply declare a moratorium on the ratification process and going on with 'business as usual'. They must show during this sensitive period that they are listening to Europe's citizens and come up with proposals which will bring the Union closer to the people. We need a thorough debate of the EU's concrete policies, especially in the economic and social field.

As the French and Dutch No's in reality expressed a dissatisfaction with current EU policies rather than with the future constitution, people will be closely watching the concrete decisions that the Commission and Council will take in the coming months. The directives on services, working time, software patenting and REACH, for example, will become test cases of the willingness of EU leaders to listen to Europe's citizens."

"However, the European Parliament must also play its role in the re-launch of the Union. The Greens/EFA are preparing to give our best possible contribution to this debate."

The Greens in the European Parliament will start their reflection process on the future of Europe at a conference on Monday 27 June in the EU Parliament to which they have invited a broad range of representatives of civil society, NGOs and trade unions.