asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he considers that European Councils suit our national interest as a means of EEC decision-making and if such a view has been communicated to our EEC partners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Council.
5.
The European Council was established as the result of a decision by the Heads of State or Government meeting in Paris in December 1974. Ireland agreed with her Community partners to the establishment of the European Council, which in fact held its first meeting in Dublin in March 1975 during Ireland's first Presidency.
The European Council provides a forum for the Heads of Government to come together to discuss the problems facing the Community and issues of foreign policy of common concern to the member states. It generally leads to orientations and directions for future policy.
We have been concerned that the European Council should not disturb the institutional balance of the Community, as laid down in the Treaties. We are particularly concerned that discussions on Community matters should take place in accordance with the rules and procedures of the treaties, including the provisions relating to the right of initiative of the Commission, as provided for by the 1974 Paris decision. We are satisfied that in practice the institutional balance of the Community is not disturbed by the European Council.
In short, we believe that the European Council provides a valuable forum for Heads of Government, accompanied by Foreign Ministers, to exchange views and examine in a global perspective the more important questions confronting the Community.
Our partners in the Community are well aware of our views on the subject.
Will the Minister agree that European Council meetings tend increasingly to the expression of the Franco-German directorate and that in fact the increasing tendency within the Community of concentrating major decisions at Council level constitutes a threat to the smaller member countries of the Community and infringes on the authority of the other institutions of the Community? Has that view been expressed forcibly?
I would not so agree. It is fair to say that each member state, and France and Germany among them, is free to put forward at the European Council the general orientations to which I referred in my reply. The Deputy will have noticed in my reply that we have adhered at all times to the institutional framework and balance which is an essential element of our support for the European Economic Community. I assure Deputies that that will remain the case. We have also conveyed those views to the committee of "Three Wise Men" which will be reporting back to the European Council during our Presidency.
Would the Minister not agree that the interests of smaller countries are more readily protected in the framework of the ordinary Council of Ministers meetings where, because of the frequency of the meetings and the greater intimacy involved, there is a greater sense of equality and smaller countries' interests can be looked after, in contrast to the European Council meetings which tend to be dominated by the two larger countries? Does he not agree that, while it is not within our power to modify this decision, nor was it within our power reasonably to prevent it being taken originally, nonetheless from our point of view the European Council is not a very happy arrangement?
I am sure the Deputy will be aware that the decision to launch the European Council was taken during his period of responsibility and, as I said, the first European Council took place in Dublin. Subject to all of that, I want to assure the Deputy that we are very conscious—and I am sure he was also—of the institutional balance which is maintained for us in the existing institutions, the Council of Ministers and the Parliament, and we intend to do all possible to ensure that that will not be upset by any developments in the European Council.
Will the Minister encourage the European Commission to exercise their right of initiative in Council meetings?
We have been among the strongest supporters of the role which the Commission should play both before and at the European Council.