By Martin Banks - 21st May 2007
An intergovernmental conference should be urgently convened to push through a renamed European constitution, according to MEP Enrique Baron Crespo.
Crespo, along with German member Elmar Brok, is parliament’s rapporteur on the stalled EU treaty.
Speaking at a news conference in Strasbourg today, Crespo, a Socialist deputy, insisted that any new document should not deviate from the treaty already ratified by 18 of the EU’s 27 member states and backed by another four.
In order to win over voters in those countries which had rejected the constitution, such as France and the Netherlands, he suggests that the name "constitution" be replaced by a new name such as a "Treaty Plus".
Crespo, a member of parliament’s constitutional affairs committee, said the move might allow the public in these countries to “come on board” and support a new treaty.
“The period of reflection has been very useful but we need to move forward,” he said.
He also said Germany, current holder of the EU presidency, should urgently convene an intergovernmental conference in order to push ahead with a newly-drafted treaty.
Crespo hopes that agreement can be reached by the end of this year so that any new proposals can be voted upon in time for the 2009 European elections.
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