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UEAPME, the Convention on the Future of Europe, and the Academy Avignon project EUFRATE
- a background
The Convention
In Laeken 2001 the European Council adopted the “Declaration on the Future of the European Union” which is the basis for the Convention on the Future of Europe can be found. The Convention consisting of representatives of the Member States, the European Institutions, and the Candidate Countries was convened and started its work in February 2002. The main objective of the Convention was to make proposals for simplification of procedures in order to bring the Union closer to its citizens. The first part was a listening phase in order to create a broad debate on the structure and content of a new Treaty for the European Union, and to prepare for a forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference.
During the listening phase the Convention met with the European Civil Society, regional and local authorities, and the Social Partners on European and National Level. A Youth Convention was also organised.
The Convention decided fairly early that it would propose a completely new Treaty, a Constitutional Treaty, into which the present three pillars of the Union would be joined together and become a single entity.
The Convention set up 11 working groups to penetrate in depth the major issues. The working groups covered areas such as Simplification, Legal Personality, Involvement of National Parliaments, Social Europe, Economic Governance etc.
The conclusions of each working group have been discussed by the Convention Plenary meetings and the results brought forward to the draft of the new Constitutional Treaty.
The articles of the draft Constitutional Treaty will be discussed further and decided on during the Spring of 2003. It is foreseen that the Convention will present its result to the Summit in Greece in June 2003. The next steps will then be decided.
UEAPME
UEAPME created an ad hoc Working Group to follow the work of the Convention and make proposals for the new Treaty. The Working Group, chaired by Mr. Peter Vesterdorf, Håndvaerksrådet, met twice in the Spring of 2002. The Working Group discussed actions, assembled information from member associations, and prepared the first UEAPME position paper.
A UEAPME position paper was sent to the Convention in July 2002. It highlighted the need for recognition, in a new Treaty, of the European Charter of Small Enterprises and of SMEs as the backbone of the European economy. The role of SMEs in the Social Dialogue was emphasised. The need for simplification of structure and procedures was stressed, among other issues. During 2002, UEAPME participated in a number of conferences and information meetings and have had personal contact with members of the Convention.
The main priorities of UEAPME for the new treaty, as stated in the UEAPME position paper (see enclosure), are:
· Inclusion of the essence of the European Charter for Small Enterprises in a new Treaty to give it legal status
· Developing the Social Dialogue on European level with an independent participation of SME representatives
· A better link between subsidiarity and responsibility
· Simplification of procedures and a better balanced decision making process
· A clear and mandatory consultation process
UEAPME and its members continued their activities concerning the Convention in the framework of the project EUFRATE.
EUFRATE
The Eufrate project, European Future and the Action of Enterprises, is an Academy Avignon project, with support of the European Commission. Its aim is to follow the work of the Convention, to promote the debate on the Future of Europe in SME and Craft organisations in the EU and the Candidate Countries, and to present the opinions of SMEs to the Convention.
The Eufrate project started in October 2002 with a meeting of the Core Group. The timetable for the project was decided, the work plan, the main activities and the actions necessary towards the Convention were discussed.
The Group decided that an Open letter should be sent to the Convention highlighting the main issues from the position paper and stressing the importance of the rcognition of small enterprises in the new Constitutional treaty.
The main activities of the project, besides an Internet forum on the Avignon Academy web site, are:
- A questionnaire to enterprises in the EU and the Candidate Countries.
- Thematic meeting in member associations.
- An SME and Crafts Summit for the Future of Europe.
- A bimonthly Newsletter.
1. The Questionnaire
A questionnaire has been elaborated and is available in English, French, German and Italian on the web site of the Academy. It has been sent out to member associations for dissemination to its members.
2. The Thematic Meetings
In 15 national member organisations two thematic meetings will take place. The first during February 2003 and the second in May or June. This activity has already raised awareness of the work of the Convention and the ongoing debate on the Future of Europe. A number of relevant issues have been raised.
The result of the Summit and the new Constitutional Treaty will be discussed in the second round of national thematic meetings.
3. The Summit
The main event of the project is the SME and Crafts Summit which will take place in Rome 7-8 March 2003. The result of the Summit will be presented to the Convention and to the Commission.
4. The Newsletter
Two Eufrate Newsletters have been published.
The first Newsletter informed about the Eufrate project, it summarised the Convention activities, including the results of the working groups. The first draft of the new treaty was introduced, and there was information about project activities.
The 2nd issue of the Newsletter informed about the questionnaire, it gave a summary of activities in member associations, and news from the Convention. The discussion Forum on the Convention web site was promoted.
Current activities
The first draft Articles of the new Constitutional treaty are presently being discussed within the core group and network, and a first proposal for amendments has been forwarded to the Convention.
Conclusion
UEAPME’s work concerning the Convention including the first five months of the Eufrate project has been very successful. The activities in many of the national member associations show that awareness has been raised. There is a broad interest in the Summit.
The final results of the questionnaire are not yet available, but so far the response has reached expectations.