The
Convention on the Future of Europe is a new means by which the
European Union wishes to refine or change the way it works. It is akin to the existing European institutions, but has a set life-expectancy. It was set up at the
Laeken Summit[?] in December 2001 to enable a more democratic process of arriving at new treaties, by inviting representatives of governments, national parliaments, the European parliament and others. This in contrast to the 'old' style of writing treaties, where governments at more than one occasion were prone to horse-trading.
See also