A Constitution for Europe [antikvár]

What is a Constitution? A Constitution is a text which contains the fundamental rules of a State or a group of States. These rules answer several questions. How do the institutions work? How is the division of powers arranged? What means can be used to implement policies? What values are upheld? What are the citizens' fundamental rights? In actual fact, the European Constitution is both a treaty subject to the rules of internationai law and a Constitution ín that it contains elements of a constitutional nature. The European Constitution was prepared in a transparent and democratic way, by a European Convention which included 72 directly eiected representatives among its 105 members, It has alsó been subject to a process of ratification by the nationaí parliaments of the 25 Member States of the Union (bodies which have likewise been eiected by direct universal suffrage), or to a referendum. Why a European Constitution? The European Constitution is an important step in the construction of Europe. It is designed to meet the challenges of an enlarged Europe: a Europe of 25 Member States and 450 millión inhabitants (and even more later on); a democratic, transparent, efficient Europe working to serve all Europeans. The European Constitution replaces the main existing Treaties with a single text. Why a European Constitution when my country already has a Constitution? The European Constitution does not replace the national Constitutions of the countries of Europe. It coexists with these Constitutions and has its own justification and its own autonomy. The European Constitution defines the contexts within which the European Union is competent to act. Europe alsó has a distinct institutional system (European Parliament, Council of Ministers, European Commission, Court of Justice of the European Union, etc.). Finally, the European Constitution applies throughout the whole of the European Union.