European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

330 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND SOCIETYahead of time for the president of the Convention to present its resultsto the European Council.According to the Laeken Declaration, the highlights of the debatearound the future of Europe are basically the following:1) Bringing European institutions closer to citizens; 2) Europe´s newrole in a global environment. The European Union should take on aleading position in the present-day context, as well as responsibility asa world power in the management of globalization, from theperspective of ethics, solidarity and sustainable development; 3) Theexpectations of European citizens in relation to EU competences andthose which correspond to States and regions; and 4) Challenges andreforms in a renewed Europe.The issues which arise in this field are the following: The principleof subsidiarity. The simplification of the instruments of the Union. Moredemocracy, transparency and efficiency. The path towards a possibleConstitution or Constitutional Treaty for European citizens.Parallel to the work of the Convention and in order to widen thescope of the debate and associate all citizens to it, the EuropeanCouncil of Laeken has agreed to constitute a forum open to allorganizations which represent civil society. Such forum will consist of astructured network of organizations which will be regularly informedof the work of the Convention. The forum´s contributions will also beincluded in the debate.It should be highlighted that, on the occasion of the EuropeanCouncil of Nice on December 7, 2000, the European Charter ofFundamental Rights was proclaimed. This declaration has receivedmuch criticism due to it being regarded as insufficient, but in any case,it undoubtedly signifies one step further towards the accomplishmentof the six great rights contained in the Charter: Dignity, Freedom,Equality, Solidarity, Citizenship and Justice.The enlargement of the European Union that is now being devisedwill be the fifth in the History of European Construction and, up untilnow, the Union had never worked on a project of such magnitude, inwhich there is bound to be shortcomings. The European Parliament,sensitive to public opinion in member States and also that of applicantcountries, is aware of the importance of this project, and at the sametime is convinced that the cost of non-enlargement would be greaterthan the cost of carrying it out.The fifteen current member States represent 275 million inhabitants.A great market. A single monetary policy and a single currency, theEuro, in twelve States. A well-established basis with regard tofundamental rights and social policy. Freedom of movement and