DRAFT EU CONSTITUTION

SLEG was delighted to welcome the former Taoiseach of Ireland, John Bruton
T.D. to its AGM on 27 November to speak on the draft EU Constitution. The
Group was delighted to be able to benefit from Mr Bruton's in-depth
knowledge of both the text and the issues surrounding it from his membership
of the Convention during its preparatory work on the Constitution. He also
brought to bear his long political experience in assessing the potential
impact of the Constitution on human rights, sovereignty and terrorism and
cross-border crime. His conclusion was that Europe has always moved forward
through a series of crises, of which France and Germany's recent failure to
adhere to the Growth and Stability Pact was undoubtedly one and which could
endanger the future of the Constitution. However, he hoped that this would
ultimately lead to a greater sense of urgency and momentum forward for the
EU.