1.	Situation in the European Union before the Presidency

2.	Priorities of the Belgian Presidency

3.	Laeken summit

4.	Report on the debate of the future of Europe during Belgian Presidency

“IV. Report on the debate of the future of Europe during Belgian Presidency

In December 2000 at the European Council in Nice, European Union Heads of State
or Government called for the launch in 2001 of a broad and in-depth debate on the future
of the Union. They also decided to pass a declaration at the European Council summit
in Laeken in December 2001 on the sequel to this debate, which would lead to a new intergovernmental conference in 2004.
As part of the preparation for the Laeken European Council, the Belgian Government and the Belgian Federal Parliament asked Mr Philippe Mahoux, senator and chairman
of the Federal Advisory Committee on European Affairs, and Pierre Chevalier, member
of the House and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, to contact the national parliaments of Member States and candidate countries with a view
to reporting to the Belgian presidency of the EU on the progress of national debates
on the future of the Union. The theme of the role of national parliaments in the European architecture was also considered in greater depth. As part of this task, all the capital cities of European Union Member States and candidate countries were visited between 1 October and 29 November 2001. The European parliament was also contacted. The report was officially presented on 12 December 2001.
It states that all Member States and candidate countries were endeavouring to launch or continue a national debate on the future of the European Union. Most countries, however, have not yet decided exactly what form this debate will take. Such vagueness arose from discussions as to who should initiate the debate, the public to be targeted and the questions
to be asked. In all countries the main challenge consisted in involving public opinion
in the debate. This was seen as crutial in the further development. It was even suggest that
in information campaings towards the public “the pedagogical approach must be stepped up“. It clearly defines that the closest partners in the campaign should be the media, as they shape the public opinion greatly, and national parliaments and local authorities should not be forgotten in the debate either. All that concerned not only the Member countries but also
the candidate ones so that the issue would not have to be addressed again when they join
the Union.
Finally, it was suggested that an evaluation tour such as this to be organised along similar lines in the course of each presidency. The many positive reactions to the Belgian initiative have revealed a need at European level for more targeted contact with parliaments and governments."

Práce hodnocena známkou A-B.