Europese campagne om ontwerp-Grondwet te redden (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Several European politicians have launched a campaign to save the draft EU Constitution which they fear is being eroded by member states.

Now a cross-party group of MEPs and national MPs have signed a list drumming up support for the draft text.

The list includes German MEP Elmar Brok (EPP) and UK Liberal MEP, Andrew Duff - two important members of Convention that drew up the text.

Giuliano Amato, the former Vice-President of the Convention, has also signed the petition.

The main focus of their anger is that the idea of a legislative council - which would have made European law-making more transparent - fell at the first hurdle.

During the first meeting of member states on the Constitution, the vast majority of them voted to ditch the proposal.

It was an article strongly favoured by the European Parliament.

The appeal, which so far has 63 signatories, will be submitted to the Italian Presidency today said a spokesperson for the European Socialists.

"Governments don't like the Legislative Council because it would effectively be the second chamber to the European Parliament. Ministers in charge of different policy areas are up in arms because they would lose power", said Maria Berger, a German Socialist MEP and member of the Convention.

However, unhappiness with the fate of the Constitution goes far beyond the legislative council.

Mr Amato is on Thursday (13 November) convening a meeting in Brussels of the Convention's 57 social democrats to discuss further steps.

Widespread unhappiness

"Here they will look at the wider issues" said a spokesperson for the European Socialists.

The socialists are concerned about the lack of progress in the on-going talks in the Constitution and the fact that each member state is insisting on its own national wish-list.

The European Parliament which attained a lot more power under the draft Constitution has been rocked by recent suggestions by member states to reduce its power.

EU finance ministers suggested last month that the Parliament should not have the final say on the EU budget.