Dutch aims in amending European treaties

News item | 20-03-2007

The Dutch government believes that the existing European treaties must be modified. A new treaty must clearly define and limit the European Union's powers and enhance democratic control over the EU.

This standpoint was articulated in a letter from Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen and Minister for European Affairs Frans Timmermans to the House of Representatives. The letter describes the government's aims in the discussion on amending the European treaties.

Modifying existing treaties

In June 2005, 61.5% of voters in a Dutch consultative referendum opposed the European Constitution (constitutional treaty). In the wake of the referendum, Verhagen and Timmermans write, the government actively sought out the views of the public, civil society groups and politicians on Europe's future.

The government will not submit the European Constitution again to Parliament or the Dutch people for approval. It does believe though that the EU must modify the existing European treaties to repair their shortcomings. A new treaty could include some elements of the rejected constitutional treaty.

Dutch aims

The government wrote in its coalition agreement that the new constitution 'should be manifestly different from the previously rejected constitutional treaty in terms of its content, scope and name'.

Verhagen and Timmermans write that the government's foremost aim is 'a better Europe, one that does not conjure up images of a "superstate", one that is more democratic and effective, with clearly defined tasks and more input from national parliaments'.

The government's aims in the discussion of a new treaty:

A treaty, not a constitution
The new treaty should only include changes to existing treaties.

A treaty that makes Europe more democratic
The democratic innovations in the constitutional treaty, such as citizens' initiatives and a greater role for national parliaments, can be used for this purpose. The government would like to take a step beyond the constitutional treaty.

A treaty that makes clear what Europe's powers are and how they will be limited
The EU will only act when necessary (subsidiarity). The distance between the public and government should be minimised by decentralising decision-making as much as possible. Matters such as pensions, social security, taxes, culture, education and health care are chiefly the responsibility of the national governments. The government would like to draw sharper lines between national policies and the EU's supplementary role.

A treaty that enables Europe to act effectively when a concerted approach is needed
The government would like more European cooperation on cross-border issues such as energy, environmental and climate protection, asylum and migration, counterterrorism and crime, and foreign policy. The EU's ability to take decisions in these areas must be enhanced in relation to the existing treaties.

A treaty that ensures that the EU abides by its own rules, especially concerning EU enlargement
The government would like to set down the rules and criteria for further enlargement in the new treaty. Enlargement played a role in the Dutch rejection of the constitutional treaty.

Timeline

At the European Council meeting on 21 and 22 June 2007, the European heads of government will make a decision on pursuing this discussion.

Elections for the European Parliament will be held in June 2009, and a new Commission will take office in November 2009. For this reason, many EU member states see 2009 as a good target date for a new treaty.

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