ЛААКЕНСКАЯ ДЕКЛАРАЦИЯ БУДУЩЕЕ ЕВРОПЕЙСКОГО СОЮЗА (ДЕКЛАРАЦИЯ ЛААКЕНА). Декларация. Европейский Союз. 15.12.01

Towards a Constitution for European citizens

     The  European  Union currently has four Treaties. The objectives,
powers and policy instruments of the Union are currently spread across
those Treaties. If we are to have greater transparency, simplification
is essential.
     Four  sets  of  questions  arise  in  this  connection. The first
concerns  simplifying  the  existing  Treaties  without changing their
content.  Should the distinction between the Union and the Communities
be reviewed? What of the division into three pillars?
     Questions  then  arise  as  to the possible reorganisation of the
Treaties.  Should a distinction be made between a basic treaty and the
other  treaty  provisions?  Should this distinction involve separating
the  texts? Could this lead to a distinction between the amendment and
ratification  procedures for the basic treaty and for the other treaty
provisions?
     Thought  would  also  have  to be given to whether the Charter of
Fundamental  Rights  should  be  included  in  the basic treaty and to
whether   the   European  Community  should  accede  to  the  European
Convention on Human Rights.
     The  question ultimately arises as to whether this simplification
and reorganisation might not lead in the long run to the adoption of a
constitutional  text  in  the  Union. What might the basic features of
such  a  constitution  be?  The  values which the Union cherishes, the
fundamental  rights  and obligations of its citizens, the relationship
between Member States in the Union?