Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-18-Speech-3-038"
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"en.20030618.4.3-038"2
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"Every effort has been made to portray the Convention as a highly democratic body, on the point of preparing a Constitution which will replace the Treaty. The fact is, however, that this is not quite the case in terms either of the Convention’s procedures or of its membership.
The Convention did not include representatives of all political parties, only the larger ones. From the Assembly of the Republic (the Portuguese parliament), the Socialist Party (PS) and Social Democratic Party (PSD) participated in the Convention. The positions of these parties are identical to those which dominate Community policy, insofar as they defend federalism and neo-liberalism. Other political groupings, critical to a greater or lesser degree of such models and approaches, were excluded. That makes it clear what kind of democracy is being upheld here.
It is true that the Convention has no constituent powers and cannot alter the Treaties, although that is what extreme federalists would like. The latter believe that a few dozen people, far from their countries and the problems and rights of their peoples, may be more easily swayed by the interests of economic and financial elites in the powerful countries which dream of ruling Europe. Only the Intergovernmental Conference and the national parliaments, however, will be able to alter the Treaties.
It is true that the results of the Convention do not exactly coincide with its stated aim of paving the way for ever-deeper integration. The plan – albeit a dangerous one – is to take shorter strides."@en1
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