Valery Giscard d'Estaing wraps up his work on Europe's first constitution

With agreements to maintain veto rights on issues dealing with immigration, labor markets, cultural trade and foreign policy, the European Convention completed its historic work of drafting a constitution on Thursday. After 18 months of work at the helm of the European Convention, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing became the first delegate to sign the completed draft of the European Union's first-ever constitution on Thursday. The 105 members of the convention, representing 25 countries, have been working on the text with convention president d'Estaing and two vice-presidents for more than 16 months. On Thursday, the president thanked his delegates and wrapped up his work. "I am proud to have been your president during this time and to have steered this ship", he told the delegates. Despite storms, frosty disputes and high waves en route, the convention had made it safely to port by producing and agreeing on a draft constitution. In Brussels, there was a feeling of happiness and relief among delegates. "We can all be proud and thankful that we have been a part of this," said the German convention and European Parliament Member Klaus Haensch. Almost without exception, the delegates were open about the fact that they had fought for changes up to the very last minute. However, most of the delegates proved pleased with the number of concessions that were built in to the end draft. "We wished for more, without any doubt, from a national standpoint," said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who led his country's delegation. "But we weren't writing a national constitution, rather a European constitution. And in that respect this is an impressive achievement."