By Chris Jones - 26th April 2006
EU commissioners are meeting behind closed doors for two days of discussion on the future of the EU – and in particular how to connect with its citizens.
But commission president José Manuel Barroso is keen to move the debate on from simply deciding whether to press ahead with the constitution.
Instead, the focus is expected to be on finding concrete ways of connecting with Europeans, in particular on showing how EU policies can improve their quality of life.
New initiatives in areas such as energy, research and social policy could be “spun” to give them a more pro-EU feel, commissioners are expected to say.
Various EU dignitaries have been touring the continent during the six-month “period of reflection” following the rejection of the EU constitution by the French and Dutch last spring under the aegis of Plan D devised by Swedish commissioner Margot Wallström.
They have talked extensively with EU citizens about what they want from Europe, and the two-day meeting will be the first chance for the college of commissioners to brainstorm ideas ahead of a position paper due to be adopted on May 10.
But despite Barroso’s wish, any discussion of the EU’s future will inevitably centre on the constitution text, and in particular on whether it can still be resurrected, as a whole or in part.
Some member states such as Estonia and Finland plan to press ahead with ratifying the text as it stands, while others, such as France, are suggesting “cherry-picking” the best bits.
Without an agreement on the constitution, the legal basis for expansion of the EU beyond 27 member states is uncertain, and enlargement is likely to feature high on the college’s agenda over the next two days.
Many – including MEPs and national politicians – are concerned that the EU is already too unwieldy and that further expansion to the east should be put on hold, regardless of whether it is legally possible or not.
The commissioners are also likely to discuss the readiness of Romania and Bulgaria to join the EU, with the commission’s final assessment due in mid-May.
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