Intergovernmental Conference 1996: Which Constitution for the Union?

Nentwich, Michael and Falkner, Gerda. (1996) Intergovernmental Conference 1996: Which Constitution for the Union? . European Law Journal 2(1):pp. 83-102.

Abstract

This paper addresses the five major structural issues on the agenda of the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) of the Member States of the European Union: the option of replacing the treaty framework by a European constitution; the issue of fundamental rights in the Union; the future of the three-pillar structure; the puzzling question of how to allow for variations in European integration without endangering unity; and, finally, the political `evergreen' of the division of competencies between the Union and its Member States. The analysis is based on the contributions by EC institutions and a series of prominent (groups of) experts and scholars which were published before the political bargaining started with the establishment of the so-called reflection group preparing the formal agenda of the conference.