The EU constitution: its role and its roots
Submitted by eric.verhulst on 1 November, 2007 - 16:00.
Direct democracy | English | European policy | Policy
Dr. Carl-Johan Westholm, founder of the online voting site FreeEurope.info and Mendez de Vigo MEP (tbc)
Could introducing a new EU constitution be so important that policy makers abandon democracy for it?
The present EU leadership seems intent on introducing fundamental rules by stealth: following rejection by referenda in two countries in 2005, the Dutch and Danish parliaments may shortly submit the “Reform Treaty” to their voters.
The European constitutional debate over the last years has focused on extending supranational powers. In the face of terrorist threats and heightened security, are the citizens of an extended Europe concerned with safeguarding their rights of freedom to circulate, to associate and to trade? What will Europe become – a trading block, or something ultimately more far-reaching?
What should be the proper role of the EU in this context? How can citizens bring their liberties to bear on the “constitutional” initiatives which seem more concerned with the expediency of EU decision-making than with the limits of government?
Date: 6 November 2007
Venue: Hotel Amigo Rue de l’Amigo 1-3, Brussels
Timing: 7pm – 8pm
Chair: Susie Squire, Network Development Manager, Stockholm Network
If you have not already, please RSVP to susie@stockholm-network.org
Places are limited.
ABOUT THE AMIGO SOCIETY
The Amigo Society was founded in 2004 by the Stockholm Network, the leading pan-European think tank and market-oriented network. Its mission is to bring together public policy experts, media representatives and members of civil society around policy issues of importance to tomorrow's enlarged Europe, with special focus on social policy in Belgium (health care, retirement, social security and labour market reform). The Society convenes monthly at the Amigo Hotel in Brussels. Its meetings are focused on a guest speaker, initially proposing the experience of healthcare reform in other countries, followed by a debate and a cocktail. The events are free of charge and we welcome your contributions to the discussion.
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