“The Secret Story of the European Convention”

This book review by the Robert Schuman Foundation presents Alain Lamassoure’s account of his experience as a member of the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Alain Lamassoure takes us on a veritable guided tour behind the scenes of Europe in his book entitled “The Secret Story of the European Convention” that has just been published in the Robert Schuman Foundation Collection by Albin Michel. The author, who is a Euro MP and a Convention member was in the privileged position of witnessing first hand all the events of an action packed saga that he relates simply and meticulously.

After reminding the reader of the genesis of the construction of Europe with the founding fathers, Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman in the 1950’s Alain Lamassoure takes us directly to the difficult European Council in Nice and the session of the European Parliament in December 2000. It was at this time that the idea to provide the new Europe with a Constitution, written by a democratic convention, took shape.

The Convention, that was chaired by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing started on 28th February 2002. Work started with an auditory phase until July 2002. Then came a period of reflection for the convention members.

The writing of the Constitution gave rise to a number of exercises that were types of « concept-cars » as seen in the car industry and that prefigure future models.

An in-depth debate was launched in February 2003 after the publication by the Praesidium of an initial series of 16 articles. Alain Lamassoure relates in detail the chapters, the multitude of debates and negotiations as well as anecdotes that punctuated and preceded the first agreements.

After crises and u-turns, agreements and disagreements, enthusiasm and criticism, doubts and quarrels, threats and duels, compromise and agreement the draft Constitution, the only text able to rally a wide ranging consensus within Greater Europe began to take shape.

On 16th April 2003 after a fifteen month long “battle” the President of the Convention, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, lay his cards on the table. According to a pre-planned scenario that Alain Lamassoure relates in detail, he revealed his text.

After a few weeks of suspense the draft Constitution was finalised on 13th June 2003; Brussels was euphoric.

On June 20th 2003, Porto Carras : the European Council of Thessaloniki approved the Convention text gaining three weeks to fine tune details.

The Convention opens the doors to Europe to its citizens. On 1st May there will be 450 million inhabitants to enter the European debate; however they still have to discover the ways to employ the draft Constitution; that means make best use of it and adopt it.

One page has been turned but the construction of Europe is far from having reached its conclusion.

You can find the full text of this review, together with a short biography of Alain Lamassoure on theFondation Robert Schumanwebsite.