European constitution

With the European Union expanding to take in 25 countries, it became clear that some of the rules regarding the mechanics of decision-making and running of the Union would need to be changed. The old system was designed with fewer countries and was weighted to give independent states the right to veto or to opt out of policies that may be difficult to sell to their own electorates.

For this reason, a proposed new constitution for Europe has been created. It adjusts the rules, where needed for the new, expanded EU, and it brings together the many overlapping treaties and protocols that have been put into place over the last few decades.

This is the text of the proposed Constitution for Europe. It now awaits ratification by all the member states before it will come into effect. In many EU countries the governments are planning referenda so that their electorates may make the final decision.

Update: On May 29, 2005 The people of France voted against this proposed constitution, throwing the whole project into turmoil. As I write this, the Netherlands are also voting with a similar result expected. Although this may seem to make noding the proposed constitution a fruitless task, it is likely it will return again. So much time and hard work has gone in to this that very few politicians will be willing to start again. I will endevour to keep any changes to the constitution reflected on these nodes.

Update: The next referendum was indeed lost, throwing the whole constitution project into disarray. The UK has cancelled plans for a referendum of its own. Britain is soon to take the EU presidency and so it will be Tony Blair's job to try to salvage something from the mess.

The Proposed Constitution for Europe

| Contents | Preface and Preamble ⇒

This is a work in progress, check my homenode to see what I'm up to at the moment. It is not noding for numbers, I'm trying to keep it to as few nodes as is practical (and logical). It is going to take me some time and work. If anyone else wants to do help (yeah, right :-) /msg me and say which bits you want to do so it doesn't get duplicated

• PREFACE
• PREAMBLE
• PART I
  • TITLE I - DEFINITION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE UNION
  • TITLE II - FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNION
  • TITLE III - UNION COMPETENCES
  • TITLE IV - THE UNION'S INSTITUTIONS
    • CHAPTER I - THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
    • CHAPTER II -OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
  • TITLE V - EXERCISE OF UNION COMPETENCE
    • CHAPTER I - COMMON PROVISIONS
    • CHAPTER II - SPECIFIC PROVISIONS
    • CHAPTER III - ENHANCED COOPERATION
  • TITLE VI - THE DEMOCRATIC LIFE OF THE UNION
  • TITLE VII - THE UNION'S FINANCES
  • TITLE VIII - THE UNION AND ITS IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT
  • TITLE IX - UNION MEMBERSHIP
• PART II : THE CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE UNION
  • PREAMBLE
  • TITLE I - DIGNITY
  • TITLE II - FREEDOMS
  • TITLE III - EQUALITY
  • TITLE IV - SOLIDARITY
  • TITLE V - CITIZENS' RIGHTS
  • TITLE VI - JUSTICE
  • TITLE VII - GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE CHARTER
• PART III: THE POLICIES AND FUNCTIONING OF THE UNION
  • TITLE I - CLAUSES OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • TITLE II - NON-DISCRIMINATION AND CITIZENSHIP
  • TITLE III - INTERNAL POLICIES AND ACTION
    • CHAPTER I - INTERNAL MARKET
      • Section 1 - Establishment of the internal market
      • Section 2 - Free movement of persons and services
        • Subsection 1 - Workers
        • Subsection 2 - Freedom of establishment
        • Subsection 3 - Freedom to provide services
      • Section 3 - Free movement of goods
        • Subsection 1 - Customs union
        • Subsection 2 - Customs cooperation
        • Subsection 3 - Prohibition of quantitative restrictions
      • Section 4 - Capital and payments
      • Section 5 - Rules on competition
        • Subsection 1 - Rules applying to undertakings
        • Subsection 2 - Aids granted by Member States
      • Section 6 - Fiscal provisions
      • Section 7 - Approximation of legislation
    • CHAPTER II - ECONOMIC AND MONETARY POLICY
      • Section 1 - Economic policy
      • Section 2 - Monetary policy
      • Section 3 - Institutional provisions
      • Section 3 bis - Provisions specific to member states which are part of the euro area
      • Section 4 - Transitional provisions
    • CHAPTER III - POLICIES IN OTHER SPECIFIC AREAS
      • Section 1 - Employment
      • Section 2 - Social policy
        • Subsection 1- The European Social Fund
      • Section 3 - Economic, social and territorial cohesion
      • Section 4 - Agriculture and fisheries
      • Section 5 - Environment
      • Section 6 - Consumer protection
      • Section 7 - Transport
      • Section 8 - Trans-european networks
      • Section 9 - Research and technological development, and space
      • Section 10 - Energy
    • CHAPTER IV - AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE
    • Section 1 - General provisions
    • Section 2 - Policies on border checks, asylum and immigration
    • Section 3 - Judicial cooperation in civil matters
    • Section 4 - Judicial cooperation in criminal matters
    • Section 5 - Police cooperation
  • CHAPTER V - AREAS WHERE THE UNION MAY TAKE COORDINATING, COMPLEMENTARY OR SUPPORTING ACTION
    • Section 1 - Public health
    • Section 2 - Industry
    • Section 3 - Culture
    • Section 4 - Education, vocational training, youth and sport
    • Section 5 - Civil protection
    • Section 6 - Administrative cooperation
• TITLE IV - ASSOCIATION OF THE OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES
• TITLE V - THE UNION'S EXTERNAL ACTION
  • CHAPTER I - PROVISIONS HAVING GENERAL APPLICATION
  • CHAPTER II - COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY
    • Section 1 - The common security and defence policy
    • Section 2 - Financial provisions
  • CHAPTER III - COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY
  • CHAPTER IV - COOPERATION WITH THIRD COUNTRIES AND HUMANITARIAN AID
    • Section 1 - Development cooperation
    • Section 2 - Economic, financial and technical cooperation with third countries
    • Section 3 - Humanitarian aid
  • CHAPTER V - RESTRICTIVE MEASURES
  • CHAPTER VI - INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
  • CHAPTER VII - THE UNION'S RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND THIRD COUNTRIES AND UNION DELEGATIONS
  • CHAPTER VIII - IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOLIDARITY CLAUSE
• TITLE VI - THE FUNCTIONING OF THE UNION
  • CHAPTER I - PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE INSTITUTIONS
    • Section 1 - The institutions
      • Subsection 1 - The European Parliament
      • Subsection 2 - The European Council
      • Subsection 3 - The Council of Ministers
      • Subsection 4 - The Commission
      • Subsection 5 - The Court of Justice
      • Subsection 6 - The Court of Auditors
    • Section 2 - The union's advisory bodies
      • Subsection 1 - The Committee of the Regions
      • Subsection 2 - The Economic and Social Committee
    • Section 3 - The European investment bank
    • Section 4 - Provisions common to union institutions, bodies and agencies
  • CHAPTER II - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
    • Section 1 - The multiannual financial framework
    • Section 2 - The union's annual budget
    • Section 3 - Implementation of the budget and discharge
    • Section 4 - Common provisions
    • Section 5 - Combating fraud
  • CHAPTER III - ENHANCED COOPERATION
• TITLE VII: COMMON PROVISIONS