by Monica Frassoni

* 1996 AND SURROUNDINGS: THE RUNNING UP TO THE IGC

1. In the Treaty of European Union it is stated that in 1996 an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) will be called in order to review some procedures and policies introduced in Maastricht.

To know how the Maastricht Treaty can be changed, look at art. N: all member states or the Commission can put forward proposals to modify the Treaty; the Council, having consulted the EP, decides to convene an Intergovernmental Conference, composed by the representatives of all member states, who should negotiate and adopt unanimously any modifications; in order to be implemented, such modifications have to be ratified by all member states.

2. In occasion of the European Summit that took place in Corfu in June 1994, it was decided that a "reflection group" be set up in june 1995 to prepare the 1996 IGC; such "Reflection Group" will be composed by a representative of the foreign ministry of each member state, a representative of the Commission and two members of the EP. They will work on the basis of three reports of evaluation on the functioning of the Maastricht Treaty, prepared by the Commission, the Council and the EP.

Not much more is known at the moment about the timetable, the working method and the real impact of the results of the Group's "reflections" on the IGC; we only know that three out of fifteen member states have nominated their representative -normally secretaries of State to foreign affairs- and that Mme GUIGOU (FR, PSE) and M. BROK (D, EPP) will be the EP members of the group; the UK has nominated Mr. DAVIS, a notorious "euro-sceptic" for the task; Germany has chosen M. HOYER; Spain, who will be holding the Presidency of the Group, nominated M. WESTERDORP, Secretary of State for european affairs.

3. The idea of a group preparing the IGC is not new; in the running up to the Single Act (1985), the so-called 'Doogue Committee' was set up; its composition was much more interesting than the present Reflection Group - no diplomats, but independent representatives of the Heads of state and Governments -; its work was based on the 1984 Spinelli Treaty, but its impact on the IGC negotiations was close to zero. Time will tell us if this "Reflection Group" will have a better lot and a positive influence on the negotiations that will certainly be complicated and highly controversial.

4. One of the first controversies will certainly be on the agenda of the IGC: what should it be about? Should it only concern the few points mentioned by the Treaty? Should it deal with a wide and deep reform of the EU institutional structure and competence?

And what about the proposals of different speeds, circles, etc..??

Nobody can tell for the moment what will happen, seen that the views expressed on this subject by the member states are either very diverse or not yet existing...But it could be useful tomention the few points that will certainly be on the IGC agenda:

a. Issues that will be evaluated and modified in 1996 according to the Treaty:

* Co-decision procedure (art.189B)

* Measures delegating the defense policy to WEU (art. J4)

* Common Foreign and Security Policy (art. J10)

* Enlargement of the Union's competence in tourism, energy, civil protection (declaration n. 1, annex to the Treaty)

* Category of legal acts ( declaration n. 16, annexed to the Treaty)

b. Issues to be dealt with in 1996 following an agreement among member states and/or EU institutions:

* Decision procedures and ponderation of votes in the Council (Ioannina Agreement, may 1994)

* Comitology ("modus vivendi" adopted by EP, Council and Commission in december 1994)

c. Issues to be reviewed according to the Treaty, but not specifically foreseen for 1996:

* Uniform electoral procedure (art. 138)

* citizenship (art. 8E)

5. The EP is actively preparing the report on the functioning of the Maastricht Treaty as well as the proposals for its modifications due to be presented to the Reflection Group.

The institutional committee has nominated two draftsmen, M. BOURLANGES (EPP, FR) and M. MARTIN (PSE, UK) and the work has been organised as follows:

M. BOURLANGES will, on the basis of 8 working documents touching different issues drafted by as many institutional committee members, present a report on the "Implementation of the Treaty" evaluating its functioning and indicating how to improve it.

M. MARTIN will, on the basis of 9 working documents, draft a report on the "Development of the Union", giving the guidelines for a new structure and nature of the future Union.

You will find in "archives federalisme" in the next days a short summary and each of the working documents that have been presented till now.

Moreover, all EP committees are currently working on their opinions on the 1996 IGC to be transmitted to the institutional committee.

5. Finally some information on the time schedule:

- from February the 22nd: Discussion on M. BOURLANGES and M. MARTIN's first drafts.

- March the 25th: First deadline for the presentation of amendments to both reports

- April the 11th: First vote in the committee.

- April the 24th/26th: Presentation of a new version of both reports in the form of a single resolution.

- April the 30th: Possible deadline for a new series of amendments.

- May the 8th: Final vote in the institutional committee

- May the 17th: Final vote in plenary