The European Parliament has set up working groups to examine the draft Constitution, drawn up by the Convention’s Praesidium, in order to exert its influence on the final compromise.
The aim of this exercise is to arrive at compromise proposals in the European Parliament on the various parts of the draft treaty which can serve as a basis for a broad compromise within the Convention.
"We will thereby send a strong political signal which will affirm Parliament’s position", said the chair of the EP Delegation to the Convention, Iñigo Méndez de Vigo (EPP-ED, Spain).
The working groups are due to complete their tasks by 8 May to enable the Delegation to discuss the findings and adopt a joint text at the 13 May plenary in Strasbourg.
The Convention will present a draft Constitutional Treaty to the EU leaders at the Thessaloniki European Council on 20 June 2003.
