The ELDR Council, meeting in Brussels on 24 January 2003,

Welcoming the progress made by the Convention on the Future of Europe in reaching a large consensus on several key elements of institutional reform, and appreciative of the work of the Liberal caucus in the Convention,

Strongly opposed to the Franco-German proposal for a permanent president of the European Council with executive powers which threatens the institutional balance of the EU,

Favouring the Commission's proposal for merging the function of High Representative and Commissioner responsible for external relations, by creating the post of European Minister for external affairs, who will be Vice-President of the Commission,

Unanimously resolves as follows:

1. Qualified majority voting plus co-decision must be the norm. QMV should be determined as a majority of member states representing a majority of the population of the Union.
2. When acting in its legislative capacity the Council must be open and its proceedings published.
3. The legislative functions of the Council should be separated from its executive role, which should be restricted to CFSP, Ecofin and Justice and Home Affairs.
4. The Commission should maintain the right of legislative and budgetary initiative. The Parliament should have co-decision on all aspects of EU budget expenditures,
5. Secondary legislation of the Commission should be subject to call-back by the legislature.
6. The President of the Commission should be elected by the European Parliament by qualified majority.
7. The Parliament must have the right of assent (i) over all international treaties; (ii) for measures decided under a revised Article 308; (iii) for all revisions of the constitution.
8. The Parliament's electoral procedure should be revised to allow for the election of a proportion of its members from an EU-wide list.
9. The 'three pillars' of Maastricht must be merged effectively into a unified system. The Union must enjoy a single personality in terms of international law.
10. The European Court of Justice should develop its role as a constitutional court in respect of competences and fundamental rights, and access should be improved for individuals.
11. The Charter of Fundamental Rights must be in the constitution as a legal commitment.
12. The European Council should decide a multi-annual policy strategy of the Union on a proposal of the Commission and after having consulted the Parliament. The Commission remains responsible for its annual legislative programme.
13. Amendment of Part Two of the constitution (policies and their implementation) must be capable of being effected by a lighter procedure than that pertaining to Part One (constitutional structure, competences and institutional powers).
14. To call for the inclusion of equality between men and women as one of the values and objectives of the European Union
15. To call for local and regional authorities to have the right to bring actions before the European Court of Justice, in the event of EU Institutions infringing their prerogatives
16. The role of national parliaments as to proposed European legislation should be strengthened through an enhanced partnership with their respective governments and thus no new EU institutions (such as the Congress of people of Europe) should be created.