Firstly, the Intergovernmental conference must deal 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 process 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.

Text by Dr. Michael Efler (works for the German NGO Mehr Demokratie)