This study has been carried out for the Centre des études européennes de Strasbourg (CEES).

The European Constitution is the last step of a long adjustment process the EU has undertaken to face the great challenge of the enlargement. The negotiation took more than two years ('European Convention' then Intergovernmental Conference). That 'Constitution' is not a revolution. It simplifies and improves the functioning of the European Union. It is a compromise between big and small States, between the ones who favor the intergovernmental method and the ones who prefer a federalist Europe. The reform of the qualified majority voting and the size of the Commission have been the most delicate issues to deal with. Basically the European integration have not really move forward, however some improvements have been made for economic governance, foreign policy and defense, justice and home affairs. Now the Constitution has just to be ratified by the 25 Member States in order to come into effect in 2006.

This content is published in French - La Constitution européenne : bilan d'un accouchement (2002-2004)