Illustration by Cody Angell

The European Union's first draft constitution, unveiled by the Convention for the Future of Europe last week, is an ominous display of statist intentions ÷ embraced by France and Germany ÷ to usurp the autonomy of member nations and blitz the capitalist values that should have defended the individual rights of European nationals and the integrity of the euro.

The only positive aspect of the draft constitution, which defines the values, objectives and powers of the 15-member Union, is its omission of the word "God"; but even that separation of church and state may be derailed in the final draft.

The draft's 16 articles, rather than simply establishing and defending a free market among independent euro-trading countries, permit a federal EU government to centralize enforcement of "communitarian" values and economic policy, as well as common foreign and security policy. Call it the creation of a "Union of European Democratic Socialist Republics".

The draft drew immediate criticism from nations on the convention. "We can't have economic policy run by the European Union," United Kingdom government representative Peter Hain said. "A lot of representatives are wondering whether the people who drew up this document have been going to a different convention."

But the Union's articles were motivated by more than just the opinions of its members ÷ namely, a hackneyed cultural critique of U.S. capitalism that has dominated the political debate in Europe since the Sept. 11 attacks on America.

French President Jacques Chirac, though not eager for a supranational EU, sees a powerfully united Europe as a necessary counterweight to an American "hyperpower" (a term coined by a high-ranking French Socialist) willing and able to defend its own interests without bending to European opinion.

Germany's Social Democrat government, led by Chancellor Gerhard Schršder, is also eager to turn the table against the United States ÷ especially after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld publicly compared Germany with Libya and Cuba this month for refusing to help the United States disarm Saddam Hussein.

Thumbing his nose at Western civilization, Schršder last weekend recruited Russian President Vladimir Putin ÷ a former KGB agent who has sheltered Soviet war criminals, brutalized Chechnya with conscripted Russian soldiers, jailed whistle-blowing journalists, harassed Russia's only private media network and banned the sale of Barbie dolls for discouraging "wholesome" values ÷ for its alliance with France to oppose an Iraq war.

Reacting to Schršder's behavior, isolated and embarrassed German voters early this month snatched power from his Social Democratic Party, placing the upper house of Parliament and almost certainly the next presidential seat firmly in the hands of Christian Democrats, most of whom are now coming down against Iraq in favor of the United States.

Does this mean the Christian Democrats are freedom lovers, ready to stand up for individual rights in the EU? Certainly not. No member nation has explicitly criticized the draft's commitment to sacrifice its citizens' lives, liberty and property to pop-servitude values such as full employment, environmental protection and the eradication of poverty.

Rather, any debate has hinged on whether the authority to enforce those entitlements comes from God or the charter of fundamental rights, the political declaration agreed by member states in 1999. While Nordic countries and France want to keep church and state separate, Germany's Christian Democrats and other countries are pushing to add a dedication to theological values in the articles similar to the Polish constitution: "The Union values shall include the values of those who believe in God as the source of truth, justice, good and beauty as well as of those who do not share such a belief but respect these universal values arising from other sources."

Lord knows we cannot rely on George W. Bush ÷ who at every opportunity professes our government must embrace religious faith ÷ to remind the EU of the reasons the United States mandated a strict division between church and state. But the founding fathers, dedicated to Enlightenment ideals, correctly observed that human survival requires values be chosen by the conscience of each individual for the moral purpose of pursuing his own life and happiness; that is why our Constitution defines our rights as freedom of action, not a list of entitlements.

The Convention emphasized the draft articles are "just proposals at this stage," and will accept amendment proposals until Monday. But this draft constitution is beyond editing; the EU must scrap it and start again with a foundation of intellectual, political and economic freedom.