The article is based on a brochure the author wrote for the project "EcoFuturum – A Sustainable Constitution for Europe" which was co-funded by the European Commission. In the framework of this project, Ecologic published a number of policy papers and carried out a series of workshops throughout the enlarged European Union to discuss the impact of the future Constitution on European environmental policy.

After extensive discussions and despite reasonable fears of failure, in June 2004 EU leaders finally adopted the Constitutional Treaty, which will replace the Nice Treaty. After signing the Constitutional Treaty in autumn 2004, Member States will have two years to ratify it. This article presents an environmental analysis of the draft Treaty as submitted by the Convention on the Future of Europe in July 2003.

The rapid changes in economic, social and security policy as well as the upcoming enlargement pose a challenge to the European Union and its institutions. Incisive reforms are necessary. This is the background for assigning the task to the Convention of preparing a draft for a forthcoming European constitution. With the Project "Europe's democratic challenge: Actively shaping European environmental policy" Ecologic follows this process from an environmental point of view.

Tanja Dräger 2003: Der Konvent zur Zukunft Europas. Die "Ergrünung" des Landwirtschaftskapitels in der Europäischen Verfassung. Berlin.

Beyer, Peter; Clare Coffey; Anneke Klasing 2003: Actively Shaping European Environmental Policy – Briefing Paper on the Draft Constitution for Europe. Ecologic Institute, IEEP, Berlin/Brussels.