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1 (May 2, 2005)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthabcbr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS21618 Updated May 2, 2005 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web The European Union's Constitution Kristin Archick Specialist in European Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary In June 2004, the European Union (EU) concluded work on a constitutional treaty that contains changes to the EU's governing institutions and decision-making processes. This new constitution grew out of the 2002-2003 Convention on the Future of Europe and previous EU efforts to institute internal reforms ahead of the Union's expansion from 15 members to 25 in May 2004. The constitution aims to enable a larger EU to operate effectively and prevent gridlock, but it must still be ratified by all member states before it enters into force. This report provides background information on the Convention and describes the EU constitution, its key provisions, next steps, and possible implications for the U.S.-EU relationship. It will be updated as events warrant. For more information, see CRS Report RS21372, The European Union: Questions and Answers, and CRS Report RS21344, European Union Enlargement. Background The European Union (EU) is a treaty-based, institutional framework that defines and manages economic and political cooperation among its 25 member states (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). The Union represents the latest stage in a process of European integration begun after World War II to promote peace and economic prosperity in Europe. This European integration project has evolved from encompassing primarily economic sectors to include developing a common foreign policy and closer police and judicial cooperation. With the end of the Cold War, the Union has also sought to extend the political and economic benefits of membership, especially to central and eastern Europe. Ten states - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia- joined the EU on May 1, 2004. Two other states - Bulgaria and Romania - are expected to join in 2007. Turkey is another candidate for membership and is expected to begin accession negotiations in October 2005, but these will take at least a decade to complete. The western Balkan states also harbor EU aspirations in the longer term. In June 2004, the EU named Croatia as a candidate for membership. Congressional Research Service + The Library of Congress

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