Resolution of the Committee of the Regions on the next Intergovernmental Conference (IGC)

(1999/C 293/16)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the decision of its bureau of 10 march 1999 to entrust the commission for institutional affairs with the preparation of a resolution on the next intergovernmental conference (IGC);

having regard to the draft resolution adopted by the commission for institutional affairs at its meeting on 27 april 1999 (CdR 54/99; rapporteurs: Mr Van den Brande and Mr Koivisto) and adapted in the meantime by both rapporteurs as instructed;

having regard to the conclusions of the cardiff european council of 15/16 june 1998, which state that questions relating to the practical implementation of subsidiarity need to be discussed further;

having regard to the conclusions of the vienna european council of 11/12 december 1998, which strengthened the consultative role of the committee of the regions in matters relating to subsidiarity,

adopted the following resolution at its 29th plenary session on 2 and 3 June 1999 (meeting of 3 June).

1. European integration has achieved enormous momentum in the last ten years: witness the completion of the single market, the Treaty of Maastricht and the introduction of Economic and Monetary Union.

2. The last IGC did not, however, solve all the problems needing to be solved prior to the forthcoming enlargement.

3. The protocol on the institutions and the declaration by Belgium, France and Italy, which are appended to the Treaty of Amsterdam, single out the composition of the European Commission, the reweighting of Member States' votes and the greater use of qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers as problems which the next IGC must solve.

4. Immediately after the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, the Cologne European Council will, as mandated in Vienna in December 1998, decide on "how and when to tackle the institutional issues not resolved by this Treaty, which have to be resolved before enlargement". At the same time, there is a need for further reform in the European Union.

5. The Committee of the Regions feels that the institutional reforms must urgently be put into effect in the interests of speedy enlargement. In the ongoing reform process, however, in addition to institutional issues, critical reform moves must also be taken to further strengthen internal security and law, to develop a Community identity in foreign and security policy and to secure a Europe that is democratic and close to the people. In view of the wide-ranging debate on reform which is set to take place over the coming years, the Committee would like consideration to be given also to the points listed below which affect it.

5.1. The subsidiarity principle should be discussed further so that the European Union, Member States, national entities/regions and local authorities can contribute to its correct practical application within their respective areas of responsibility. This has already been pointed out in a declaration on subsidiarity made by Germany, Austria and Belgium which is appended to the Treaty of Amsterdam and which expressly states that "action by the European Community in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity not only concerns the Member States but also their entities to the extent that they have their own law-making powers conferred on them under national constitutional law". The Committee calls for the amendment of EC Treaty Article 5 to take account of the special role of regional and local authorities in respect of the principle of subsidiarity(1).

5.2. The Committee of the Regions considers that the forthcoming reforms must include an accurate allocation of powers between the European Union and the Member States. This will contribute to the acceptance of decisions taken by majority. The European Union must focus on those tasks which are properly European. The timetable and purpose of further reforms must be clearly defined. The opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the subsidiarity principle entitled "Developing a genuine culture of subsidiarity. An appeal by the Committee of the Regions"(2) must be the basis for this discussion.

5.3. The Committee of the Regions, along with the European Parliament, must be involved from the outset as a fully-fledged partner in the preparations for the new IGC and must be able to play an active role in the negotiations and decisions.

5.4. The Committee of the Regions wishes to be recognized as a body within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EC Treaty.

5.5. Committee members should be required to be elected members of a regional or local authority or be politically accountable to an assembly elected by direct universal suffrage(3).

5.6. The Committee of the Regions should be granted the express right to bring proceedings before the European Court of Justice in order to defend its powers, and regions with legislative powers should also be given the power to institute proceedings(4).

Brussels, 3 June 1999.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Manfred DAMMEYER

(1) CdR 305/97 fin - OJ C 64, 27.2.1998, p. 98.

(2) CdR 302/98 fin.

(3) CdR 305/97 fin - OJ C 64, 27.2.1998, p. 98.

(4) CdR 305/97 fin - OJ C 64, 27.2.1998, p. 98.