EU Convention Winds up Mission on Constitution

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, July 11, 2003

EU Convention Winds up Mission on Constitution

European Union (EU) representatives Thursday finished their 16 months of work to draft its first constitution for an enlarged EU from current 15 member countries to a 25-nation bloc as of next May.

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European Union (EU) representatives Thursday finished their 16 months of work to draft its first constitution for an enlarged EU from current 15 member countries to a 25-nation bloc as of next May.

"In one's life, if one is lucky, one is permitted once or twice to make a difference, to touch the hem of history," said Valery Giscard d'Estaing, president of the 105-member Convention on the Future of Europe. "Together we have had that chance."

The draft EU constitution proposes a major overhaul of the way the bloc does business in the future. It will now go to EU leaders negotiation in an intergovernmental conference that kicks off in October in Italy, the current EU presidency holder.

In a last session of the convention meeting this week, Germany won a battle for a clause spelling out members' rights to impose quotas on migrant labor from third countries. France preserved a right of veto to protect its film and television industry from Hollywood in international trade negotiations.

But the greens failed to ensure that the Euratom treaty, which governs nuclear safety and research in the bloc, becomes part of the new constitution.

Representatives in the constitutional convention also agreed toadd a reference in their text to an EU flag, anthem and motto and a Europe Day, despite British reticence about such symbols of statehood.

The official EU anthem is the "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the flag is the dark blue banner with 12 yellow stars in a circle, and the motto is "United in Diversity."

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