The Commission wants to rebuild trust in the EU by concentrating on "delivery" and hopes that this will prepare the ground for another institutional round in 2008. It recommends that member states adopt a solemn political declaration renewing their commitment to the Union in 2007 (50 years after the signing of the Treaty of Rome).
"On veut créer le contexte pour revenir au texte", said the Commission president, refusing to give up on the Constitutional Treaty. But he also expressed doubts about the possibility of reviving the current text by pointing out that France and the Netherlands, have also warned that they will not organise a second referendum on it. Comparing the current "period of reflection to a football match, Mr Barroso used the image of "extra time" to the current situation.
The "citizens' agenda" consists of twelve policy initiatives in five areas:
- an improved internal market for the 21st century ("the internal market is not only important for businesses but also for citizens", the President said, refering to the mobile phone charges issue)
- more solidarity ("Europe is more than a market", dixit Mr Barroso);
- better access for citizens to their existing rights via an "entitlement card" and improved decision-making on justice and security policies by using the existing treaty possibilities. (Do we need to wait for the next terrorist attack before we will have better cooperation", Mr Barroso said twice;
- enlargement: a review of the process wil be published in December 2006;
- EU in the wider world.
