Schedule for the meetings of the Conference of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States (Intergovernmental Conference - IGC) which started work on 4 October 2003, culminating on 18 June 2004 with the adoption of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

At their meeting in Rome on 4 October 2004, on the occasion of the opening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to revise the Treaties, the Heads of State and of Government of Member Countries, of acceding countries and candidates to the European Union, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Commission, confirm the importance of the commitment to endow the European Union with a constitutional text and take up the Convention's Draft Treaty as a good basis for starting in the IGC.

Group photo taken at the opening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) in Rome on 4 October 2003 which leads to the adoption of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

Press conference held on 4 October 2003 in Rome, in the Palazzo dei Congressi, by Pat Cox (left), President of the European Parliament, Silvio Berlusconi (centre), President-in-Office of the European Council, and Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, to mark the opening of the Intergovernmental Conference aimed at adopting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

Fearing the consequences of a failure by the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to finalise the constitutional negotiations, the former Parliamentary members of the European Convention meet in Brussels on 5 December 2003 in order to call on the IGC to adhere the Convention’s package deal and to finish its work at the European Council in Brussels on 12 and 13 December 2003.

The Brussels European Council, held under the Italian Presidency on 12 and 13 December 2003, notes that it has not yet been possible for the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to reach overall agreement on a draft constitutional treaty and calls on the Irish Presidency, by way of a consultation process, to undertake an assessment of the prospects for progress.

On 18 June 2004, at an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) that had commenced on 4 October 2003, the Heads of State or Government of the 25 Member States of the European Union reach agreement on a new Constitutional Treaty for Europe.