Giscard presents draft Constitution to Italian Presidency 

Mr Giscard d'Estaing officially handed over the full draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe to the Italian Presidency of the European Council on 18 July in Rome. He warned against reopening negotiations on the draft constitution, saying that it was "a finished product, with no loose ends to be tied up, no options left open". He added that "reopening it, even in part, would cause it to unravel".

Mr Giscard d'Estaing urged the Italian Government to conduct the Intergovernmental Conference at the highest political level, so as to bring it to completion under the Italian Presidency, in December 2003.

The Intergovernmental Conference on the future EU Constitution will begin in Rome on 4 October. In the period leading up to the opening of the conference, the Member States will continue to come forward with their observations and concerns on the draft European Constitution. Three sessions are scheduled within the conference, which is expected to be concluded before the end of the Italian Presidency on 31 December 2003.

The "Rome Constitution" could then be signed on 9 May 2004 - Europe Day, just before the next European elections. Between May 2004 and the end of 2005 the treaty will be ratified by the 25 EU parliaments, with referenda being held where necessary.