Tindemans group
Encyclopedia
The Tindemans Group was a EU
group of reflection in 1994-1995, set up with the aim of bringing the general public into the debate about the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference
with a view to enlargement with new member states from Central and Eastern Europe. It was chaired by Leo Tindemans, former Prime Minister of Belgium; secretary of the Group was Sammy van Tuyll van Serooskerken
. The Group consisted of 48 politicians, civil servants and experts from all member states and from all major political affiliations. The members of the Group had different backgrounds, different views on government and different views on Europe, such as how far it should be integrated and how decisions should be made. They shared one view in common: the decision about the future of the European Union cannot be taken without the involvement of the citizens of its member states.
The Group stressed the need to discuss the institutional framework of the European Union with a view to the enlargement of the Union. It pointed out that if the countries of Central and Eastern Europe would join the Union, membership could eventually reach as many as thirty countries. Such an enlargement will require effective decision-making procedures, but at the same time there would be a growing risk that people will feel dissociated from decision taking in such a large organisation.
Members of the Group were, amongst others: Jens-Peter Bonde
, Elmar Brok, Bill Cash, François Froment-Meurice, Élisabeth Guigou
, Ernst Hirsch Ballin
, Fientje Moerman
, Richard Portes, Nicolas Schmitt, Leo Tindemans (chairman), Sammy van Tuyll van Serooskerken
, (secretary of the Group), Frank Vibert.
The Group wrote a report, “Europe: Your choice”, describing five options for tomorrow's Europe. The five scenarios range from a less integrated Europe to the equivalent of the United States of Europe.
The scenarios can be briefly described as follows.
It was not the aim of the Tindemans Group to specifically recommend any of these scenarios. It is up to the reader to draw his own conclusions.
The report of the Tindemans Group was presented to the President of the European Commission
, the President of the European Parliament
and the President of the Council
in December 1995. It was published in English, French, German and Spanish.
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
group of reflection in 1994-1995, set up with the aim of bringing the general public into the debate about the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference
Intergovernmental Conference
An Intergovernmental Conference is the formal procedure for negotiating amendments to the founding treaties of the European Union. Under the treaties, an IGC is called into being by the European Council, and is composed of representatives of the member states, with the Commission, and to a lesser...
with a view to enlargement with new member states from Central and Eastern Europe. It was chaired by Leo Tindemans, former Prime Minister of Belgium; secretary of the Group was Sammy van Tuyll van Serooskerken
Sammy van Tuyll van Serooskerken
Samuel Ernest "Sammy", Baron van Tuyll van Serooskerken is a Dutch politician. He was co-founder of the Liberaal Democratische Partij and was head of list for this party in the 2006 Parliament elections.- Education :...
. The Group consisted of 48 politicians, civil servants and experts from all member states and from all major political affiliations. The members of the Group had different backgrounds, different views on government and different views on Europe, such as how far it should be integrated and how decisions should be made. They shared one view in common: the decision about the future of the European Union cannot be taken without the involvement of the citizens of its member states.
The Group stressed the need to discuss the institutional framework of the European Union with a view to the enlargement of the Union. It pointed out that if the countries of Central and Eastern Europe would join the Union, membership could eventually reach as many as thirty countries. Such an enlargement will require effective decision-making procedures, but at the same time there would be a growing risk that people will feel dissociated from decision taking in such a large organisation.
Members of the Group were, amongst others: Jens-Peter Bonde
Jens-Peter Bonde
Jens-Peter Rossen Bonde is a former Member of the European Parliament with the June Movement. He resigned as an MEP in May 2008. Bonde was elected to the European Parliament in the first election in 1979 with the People's Movement against the EU. He has been re-elected 6 times consecutively...
, Elmar Brok, Bill Cash, François Froment-Meurice, Élisabeth Guigou
Élisabeth Guigou
Élisabeth Guigou is a French Socialist politician.-Biography:After attending ENA, France's elite graduate school of public affairs, she worked on Jacques Delors' staff in 1982 before being hired by Hubert Védrine in François Mitterrand's...
, Ernst Hirsch Ballin
Ernst Hirsch Ballin
Ernst Maurits Henricus Hirsch Ballin is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He served as Minister of Justice and Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs from November 7, 1989 until May 27, 1994 in the Cabinet Lubbers III...
, Fientje Moerman
Fientje Moerman
Joséphine Rebecca Marie Julienne Bertha "Fientje" Moerman is a Belgian liberal politician.-Education:In 1981 Fientje Moerman obtained a Master degree in law. She studied law at the University of Ghent and at Harvard University .-Professional career:She started her career as a lawyer in New York...
, Richard Portes, Nicolas Schmitt, Leo Tindemans (chairman), Sammy van Tuyll van Serooskerken
Sammy van Tuyll van Serooskerken
Samuel Ernest "Sammy", Baron van Tuyll van Serooskerken is a Dutch politician. He was co-founder of the Liberaal Democratische Partij and was head of list for this party in the 2006 Parliament elections.- Education :...
, (secretary of the Group), Frank Vibert.
The Group wrote a report, “Europe: Your choice”, describing five options for tomorrow's Europe. The five scenarios range from a less integrated Europe to the equivalent of the United States of Europe.
The scenarios can be briefly described as follows.
- Scenario 0: The current situation, presented for comparison
- Scenario 1: Several modifications to the current situation, discussed separately.
- Scenario 2: The Commission is the main policy-making body in the Union, accountable to a bi-cameral Parliament. The Council assigns policy areas to the Union level and applies a subsidiarity test.
- Scenario 3: The Council has the primary responsibility for taking the initiative in public policy; the Commission has an administrative task; the Parliament is bi-cameral, with one Chamber, consisting of Members of the national Parlia¬ments, ensuring that European measures are really necessary.
- Scenario 4: The Commission becomes a "European government", accountable to a bi-cameral European Parliament; the Council is transformed into one of its Chambers, the European Senate.
- Scenario 5: The Council is the decision making body; the Commission gives administrative support; the Parliament has an advisory role.
It was not the aim of the Tindemans Group to specifically recommend any of these scenarios. It is up to the reader to draw his own conclusions.
The report of the Tindemans Group was presented to the President of the European Commission
President of the European Commission
The President of the European Commission is the head of the European Commission ― the executive branch of the :European Union ― the most powerful officeholder in the EU. The President is responsible for allocating portfolios to members of the Commission and can reshuffle or dismiss them if needed...
, the President of the European Parliament
President of the European Parliament
The President of the European Parliament presides over the debates and activities of the European Parliament. He or she also represents the Parliament within the EU and internationally. The President's signature is required for enacting most EU laws and the EU budget.Presidents serve...
and the President of the Council
Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union that rotates between the member states of the European Union every six months. The presidency is not a single president but rather the task is undertaken by a national...
in December 1995. It was published in English, French, German and Spanish.