The EEB considered the outcome of the Convention to be disappointing with regard to the strengthening of sustainable development and environmental policy integration in sectoral and horizontal policies. The EEB would also have liked a more clear spelling-out of participatory democracy. Another worrying point was the possibility that EURATOM will continue to be a component part of the EU. Therefore the EEB with its coalition partners is aiming at an improvement of the text. This means that the objective with regard to the IGC is to have a Convention that is considerably more progressive than the draft put on the table in June 2003.

What is the EEB doing?
In 2002 and 2003, the EEB has been active in formulating proposals for the Constitution and in promoting dialogue between the environmental movement and the members of the Convention. On the one hand, it initiated a common approach for the European environmental organisations (Green Eight), on the other it took part in the Civil Society Contact Group, a coalition of organisations with a European social, environmental, human rights and development background and the European Trade Unions Confederation. This Contact Group initiated the Act4Europe campaign, with its main objective to increase civil society's involvement in the work of the Convention and later the IGC. Its common concerns included a strong concept of sustainable development in the Constitution as well as transparency and participatory democracy.

The EEB will continue to co-ordinate and promote activities of the environmental movement and work together with other non-governmental organisations and the ETUC to achieve its aims on a environmentally sound and democratic Constitution.

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	For more information, please contact: John Hontelez email: hontelez@eeb.org