The Intergovernmental Conference was convened on the basis of Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union, which stipulates that whatever the scope of the amendments it proposes be made to the existing treaties (including their repeal, as provided for in Article IV-437 of the draft Constitution), the amendments will not come into force until they have been ratified by all the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.
Valdību konference tika sasaukta, pamatojoties uz Līguma par Eiropas Savienību 48. pantu, kas nosaka - lai kādus konkrēto līgumu grozījumus tā ierosina (ieskaitot to atcelšanu, kas paredzēta Konstitūcijas projekta IV-437. pantā), grozījumi nestāsies spēkā, līdz tos būs ratificējušas visas dalībvalstis, kā to prasa šo valstu konstitūcijas.