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Next steps: many hurdles ahead

There are still several hurdles to be jumped before Europe-wide citizens' initiatives are really possible. Firstly, the Intergovernmental conference must concern itself with the draft constitution. This will happen beginning in October 2003. Then the draft constitution must be ratified by the member states, be it by popular vote or by vote of parliament. This can take until 2005, so that the constitution might possibly enter into force on 1.1.2006. Parallel to the ratification process we will try to discuss with positive-minded MEPs, as well as with members of the European Commission, the draft of a European law that implements Art. I-46 (4) of the constitution, so that this can be decided on as soon as possible after the entry into force of the constitution..

 

Michael Efler, in June 2003
 

Credits

"My very special thanks go to Convention members Professor Jürgen Meyer (SPD, Germany) and Alain Lamassoure (Conservative, France), who worked consistently and eloquently for more direct democracy, and to their assistants Hans Rubbel and Anne-Catherine de Bruchard.. Likewise Heiko Dittmer (rocket!) of the Belgian organization WIT and Carsten Berg and Lars Bosselmann of More Democracy, without whose support this success would not have been possible. Very important too was the good co-operation with Democracy International (thanks to Thomas Rupp and Ronald Pabst) and the Initiative & Referendum Institute Europe (thanks to Bruno Kaufmann, Arjen Nijeboer and Paul Carline). Last but not least a very special thanks to Henrik Dahlsson for his practical and indispensable assistance."

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