In autumn 2003, in the journal Commentaire, Alain Lamassoure, former French Minister for European Affairs and Member of the European Convention in his capacity as representative of the European Parliament, analyses the outcome of the Convention’s work and expresses his satisfaction with the method of establishing a Convention to debate the future of the European Union.

Le 4 octobre 2003, dans un entretien accordé au quotidien La Libre Belgique, Guy Verhofstadt, Premier ministre et chef de la délégation belge, évoque son point de vue sur l'importance des travaux de la Conférence intergouvernementale (CIG), dont l'objectif est de mettre au point le texte final de la future Constitution européenne, destinée à modifier et à remplacer le contenu des traités existants.

On 10 September 2003, Jack Straw answers the questions of the House of Commons Select Committee on European Scrutiny. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is heard on the subject of preparations for the IGC, the specific issues involved in the negotiations and the United Kingdom’s room for manoeuvre.

The contribution by François Lamoureux’s working group to the preliminary draft European Constitution is dated 4 December 2002. As part of the ongoing research carried out by the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, this feasibility study, carried out at the same time as the work of the European Convention, was commissioned by Romano Prodi but does not represent the views of the Commission.

On 4 December 2002, the European Commission publishes a Preliminary Draft of the Constitution of the European Union, known as the ‘Penelope’ draft, drawn up by a group of experts at the request of the Commission President, Romano Prodi, in agreement with Commissioners Michel Barnier and António Vitorino, which determines the way in which the Community institutions are to operate and the policies to be pursued by the Union.

In this interview excerpt, Philippe de Schoutheete, Honorary Belgian Ambassador and Special Adviser to European Commissioner Michel Barnier from 1999 to 2004, discusses the ‘Penelope’ draft, the name given to the draft European constitution drawn up by the European Commission while the Convention on the Future of Europe was carrying out its work.

Opinion of the European Commission delivered on 17 September 2003 following adoption by the European Convention on 13 June and 10 July 2003 of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The Commission considers that the draft should provide the basis for the work of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), taking the view that the IGC's task should consist of improving, clarifying and finalising the draft Constitution.

On 19 September 2003, the European Central Bank (ECB) delivers its opinion on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe with regard to the institutional amendments to monetary policy which it will entail.

On 24 September 2003, the European Parliament adopts a resolution on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe which sets out the European Parliament’s opinion on the convening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC).

Dated 6 October 2003, the indicative timetable for the 2003 IGC, up to the month of December, forwarded to the members of the Conference by the Presidency.

At their meeting in Rome on 4 October 2004, on the occasion of the opening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to revise the Treaties, the Heads of State and of Government of Member Countries, of acceding countries and candidates to the European Union, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Commission, confirm the importance of the commitment to endow the European Union with a constitutional text and take up the Convention's Draft Treaty as a good basis for starting in the IGC.

On 25 November 2003, on the eve of the Conclave of Foreign Ministers held in Naples as part of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), the Presidency of the Council of the European Union sends a note to each of the Delegations in which it reviews the work of the IGC.

Fearing the consequences of a failure by the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to finalise the constitutional negotiations, the former Parliamentary members of the European Convention meet in Brussels on 5 December 2003 in order to call on the IGC to adhere the Convention’s package deal and to finish its work at the European Council in Brussels on 12 and 13 December 2003.

The Brussels European Council, held under the Italian Presidency on 12 and 13 December 2003, notes that it has not yet been possible for the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to reach overall agreement on a draft constitutional treaty and calls on the Irish Presidency, by way of a consultation process, to undertake an assessment of the prospects for progress.

On 24 March 2004, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union forwards a report to the Brussels European Council, held on 25 and 26 March, in which it calls for the rapid conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC).

On 15 October 2003, following bilateral contacts organised by the Presidency which highlighted the need for reforms, the Member State delegations receive a questionnaire from the Presidency, originally published on 19 September, on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

The reply from the Federal Republic of Germany, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Austria, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from the Benelux, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Bulgaria, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Cyprus, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from the Commission, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Denmark, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Spain, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Estonia, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Finland, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from France, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Greece, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Hungary, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Ireland, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Latvia, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Lithuania, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Malta, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Poland, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Portugal, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Romania, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Slovakia, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Sweden, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Slovenia, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from the Czech Republic, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from the United Kingdom, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

The reply from Turkey, dated 15 October 2003, to the questionnaire on the legislative function, the formations of the Council and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, submitted by the Presidency on 19 September.

On 24 November 2003, the Benelux countries forward to the Intergovernmental Conference their contribution concerning the procedure for the election of the President of the European Council and other office-holders of EU institutions and the procedure for the election of the President of the European Commission.

On 5 December 2003, in view of the IGC ministerial meeting due to be held on Monday 8 December, the Finnish delegation puts forward its proposal for a new Preamble to the Constitutional Treaty.

On 24 March 2004, following a request made by the European Council meeting in Brussels on 11 and 12 December 2003, the Irish Presidency publishes a report on the state of negotiations at the Intergovernmental Conference and possible progress towards an agreement on a draft constitutional treaty. The report is based on a series of consultations with both states and institutions.

At their meeting on 18 June 2004, the Heads of State or Government give their agreement to the latest amendments to the texts in document CIG 81/04. These texts, resulting from the work of the Intergovernmental Conference, are accompanied in places by explanatory notes.