The EMI Federal Council met over the past weekend in Berlin to debate its political and organisational priorities.

The main political debate has focused on the contents of the IGC mandate that the European Council adopted at its meeting on the 21-22nd June. The European Movement evaluated the mandate for the IGC as an important step forward that includes several essential improvements: strengthening the role of the European Parliament, the role of the national parliaments, the introduction of elements of participatory democracy (e.g. Citizens’ Initiative), the Charter of Fundamental Rights becomes legally binding, more qualified majority voting in the Council and merging the functions of the Commission Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and the High Representative of the European Union.

However, the Federal Council regretted the continued use of unanimity in many important areas, the removal of European symbols from the Treaty, the lack of simplification which would enable citizens to better understand the EU (directives and regulations remain) and the increasing number of opt-outs that could weaken the EU.

The Federal Council adopted a resolution on the matter entitled “European Reform Treaty as an important step forward: The Constitutional process should go on”.

The Federal Council delegates also debated topics related to Enlargement and Neighbourhood policy and adopted a resolution addressing the fight against climate change entitled “EU has to turn the UN climate summit into a success”.

The Federal Council discussed in detail the “Hague Congres” where the European Movement will celebrate its 60th Anniversary. This is considered as a major political event in 2008, which should also set out the vision for the Europe of the future and will be preceed by a long consultation process involving a large part of European Civil Society.

On Friday afternoon the delegates participated in the first International EU Presidencies Briefing,organised in partnership with the EM Germany and EurActiv. The event was a big success with the representation of the German, Portuguese and the Slovenian Presidency and attended by over 300 people.

Pictures are available in the photo library.

Full text of the adopted Resolutions:

– European Reform Treaty as an important step forward: The Constitutional process should go on (PDF)
– EU has to turn the UN climate summit into a success (PDF)