BRUSSELS - Here are the main innovations foreseen by the European Union's first-ever constitution.
France will hold a referendum on the constitution on May 29, one in a series of such polls to be held in several EU states. Public opinion is split in the country, with the 'no' camp prevailing in nearly two dozen polls.
- New longer-term EU PRESIDENT, to serve for a two-and-a-half year term, replacing the current six-month rotating system.
- EU FOREIGN MINISTER: replacing two jobs currently held by Spain's Javier Solana and Austria's Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Solana is expected to become the first EU foreign minister when, or if, the bloc's constitution is ratified in the next few years.
- Streamlined EUROPEAN COMMISSION: the EU executive branch will be slimmed from its current 30 members, with initially one member per EU country -- 25 at the moment -- going down to two-thirds of the number of EU states in 2014.
- EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: will win greater powers of oversight of EU decision making. The EU assembly flexed its already-growing muscles in October last year by preventing a new commission from taking office.
- QUALIFIED MAJORITY VOTING: All but the most sensitive EU decisions to be decided by a new so-called "double majority" system. Changes in foreign affairs, defence and tax law will still require unanimity.
- LEGAL STANDING: The constitution establishes the EU as a legal body with power to sign international treaties.
- CITIZENSHIP: "Every national of a Member State shall be a citizen of the Union."
- ROLE OF RELIGION: The constitution's preamble says the EU draws its "inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe." There is no mention of Christianity despite demands by predominantly Catholic countries.
- EXIT CLAUSE: The constitution sets out for the first time in EU law that a member state can leave the bloc if it so chooses.
- CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: The first ever such document. Britain won a battle to ensure that the charter does not override national laws on sensitive issues such as employment legislation.
04/28/2005 12:37 GMT