Following the French and Dutch ‘no’ votes on the European Constitution, the Heads of State or Government call for a ‘period of reflection’ to enable a broad debate to take place in each Member State. On 13 October 2005, the Commission proposes its contribution to the period of reflection: ‘Plan-D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate’. The aim of this plan is to stimulate the debate on the relationship between the European Union’s democratic institutions and its citizens.

In its resolution of 24 November 2006, the European Parliament emphasises the importance of using the period of reflection to revive the constitutional project on the basis of a broad public debate about the future of European integration. It also proposes that ‘parliamentary forums’ be held to stimulate the debate and shape the political conclusions required to resolve the crisis facing the EU.

The conference ‘The Sound of Europe’, organised by the Austrian Presidency and held in Salzburg on 27 and 28 January 2006, addressed fundamental questions on the future of Europe as recommended by the June 2005 European Council as part of the period of reflection and discussion.

Report from the Presidency and the General Secretariat of the Council, dated 24 May 2006, on the information and communication activities carried out by the Member States during the reflection period mandated by the declaration of Heads of State or Government at the June 2005 European Council.

In its resolution of 14 June 2006, the European Parliament calls on the European Council to move from the period of reflection to a period of analysis with a view to reaching a clear proposal on how to proceed with the Constitutional Treaty by the second half of 2007.

The European Council of 15 and 16 June 2006 adopts an overall policy on transparency which concerns, in particular, the work of the Council of the European Union. According to this document, all Council deliberations on legislative acts to be adopted by codecision shall be open to the public as shall the votes and the explanation of votes by Council Members; Council deliberations on legislative acts other than those adopted by codecision may likewise be open to the public (see Annex I). The European Council requests the Council to take the measures necessary to ensure implementation of this new policy.

Address by Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 17 January 2007. In her address, the Chancellor sets out the main priorities of the work of the German Presidency, particularly the question of the future of the Constitutional Treaty.

On 14 March 2007, to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Rome Treaties and in light of the crisis facing the European Union, the European Economic and Social Committee resolves to help provide the necessary impetus that will create a new momentum for the process of European integration.

On 25 March 2007, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President-in-Office of the European Union, and the European Commission and Parliament Presidents José Manuel Barroso and Hans-Gert Pöttering sign the ‘Berlin Declaration’. This declaration officially launches the renegotiation of a new treaty and sets the year 2009 as the aim for its entry into force.

Report drafted by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on 22 May 2007 on the roadmap for the Union’s constitutional process. In this report, the European Parliament reaffirms its commitment to achieving a settlement of the ongoing constitutional process in the European Union that is based on the content of the Constitutional Treaty, possibly under a different presentation, but takes into account the difficulties that have arisen in some Member States.

In its resolution adopted on 30 May 2007, the European Economic and Social Committee reaffirms its support for the Constitutional Treaty. The Committee also states its intention to assist the negotiation process for the new treaty by helping ensure that the voice of civil society is heard.

In its opinion of 6 June 2007, the Committee of the Regions calls on the Heads of State or Government, meeting in the European Council on 21 and 22 June 2007, to commit to bringing the treaty reform process to a swift conclusion, without going back on the advances obtained by and for local and regional authorities.

On 14 June 2007, following the request made by the European Council at its June 2006 session, the German Presidency submits its report on pursuing the treaty reform process to the delegations of the Council of the European Union. The aim of this report is to provide a basis for reaching agreement on the way forward at the European Council on 21 and 22 June 2007.

Tenant compte de la position de la République tchèque, les chefs d'État et de gouvernement, réunis à Bruxelles les 29 et 30 octobre 2009, sont convenus d'annexer, lors de la conclusion du prochain traité d'adhésion, le «protocole sur l'application de la charte des droits fondamentaux de l'Union européenne à la République tchèque». Ce protocole accorde à la République tchèque les mêmes garanties qu'à la Pologne et au Royaume-Uni en ce qui concerne la charte des droits fondamentaux de l'Union européenne.

On 4 May 2012, the European Commission delivers a favourable opinion on the draft European Council decision in favour of examining the proposed amendment of the Treaties concerning the addition of a Protocol on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic.

In its recommendation of 24 September 2012, the European Parliament approves the European Council’s proposal not to convene a Convention for the addition of a Protocol on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic, to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

In this report of 15 May 2013, the European Parliament delivers its opinion on the draft protocol on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic.

European Parliament decision of 22 May 2013 on the European Council’s proposal not to convene a Convention for the addition of a Protocol on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic, to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

European Council decision of 18 June 2013 on the examination by a conference of representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the amendment to the Treaties proposed by the Czech Government in the form of a Protocol on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic, to be annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.