The European Constitution

How it was created,What it will change
Jacobs, Prof. dr. A.T.J.M.
Pages: 150 pages
Shipping Weight: 350 gram
Published: 07-2005
Publisher: WLP
Language: US
ISBN (softcover) : 9789058501158

Product Description

During 2002-2004 a Constitution for Europe was drawn up by representatives of 25 European nations.In 2005 and 2006 this Constitution is being submitted in each of those nations to ratification by national parliaments and in some cases to a popular vote. On October 29, 2004 in Rome the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was officially signed by the representatives of the 25 Member States of the European Union.It replaces the old Treaty of Rome of 1957, which established the European Economic Community and the Treaty of Maastricht which established the European Union. But,was this only a tidying up exercise or does the new Treaty bring about important changes in Europe that have a constituent dimension? And will it survive all the national ratification procedures that it has to undergo in the various Member States, including referenda in Britain, France and other countries? The new European Constitution will be heavily debated in the forthcoming months.

This book aims to provide a critical assessment of how the new Constitution was created? What would it change in the way the European Union is run?Would this Constitution lead to a European superpower with military muscle?Would it improve the protection of human rights? Would it alter the European social model?Would it recognise the Christian roots of Europe ’s civilisation? This book provides basic information about the European Constitution to answer these and other questions.

Contents:
Preface
I.THE MAKING OF THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION
1.Introduction
2.The Convention Phase
3.The IGC Phase
4.The Face of the new Constitution

II.THE INSTITUTIONS
5.The European Council
6.The Council of Ministers
7.The European Commission
8.The European Parliament
9.The national Parliaments and the European Social Partners inthe European Constitution10.The Court of Justice

III.THE COMPETENCES
11.The Distribution of Competences and the Legal Instruments
12.The European Budget
13.The Financial and Economic Policies
14.Social Policy,Employment,Social Cohesion and Public Health
15.Foreign Policy
16.Defence Policy
17.Security,Justice and Home Affairs

IV.VALUES,OBJECTIVES AND PARTICIPATION OF THECITIZENS
18.Fundamental Rights
19.The Values and objectives of the European Union
20.Europe and its citizens
21.The Masters of the Constitution
22.Conclusion

The author, Antoine T.J.M.Jacobs, is Professor at the Law School of Tilburg University, The Netherlands