Written Answers. - EU Developments.
Noel Dempsey
Question:
98
Mr. Dempsey
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
the progress, if any, he has made to date in having the principle of sustainable development inserted into the EU Treaty; whether the draft amendments to the treaty as set out in the Presidency introductory note (details supplied) of 17 September 1996 have been accepted; the progress, if any, which has been made in relation to other drafts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22606/96]
Noel Dempsey
Question:
99
Mr. Dempsey
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
the progress, if any, he has made to date in having the integration principle regarding sustainable development inserted into the EU Treaty; whether the draft amendments to the treaty as set out in the Presidency introductory note (details supplied) of 17 September 1996 have been accepted; the progress, if any, which has been made in relation to other drafts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22608/96]
Noel Dempsey
Question:
100
Mr. Dempsey
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
the progress, if any, he has made to date in having an amendment to Article 36 of the EU Treaty accepted regarding the addition of environmental protection as a ground for the prohibition in imports, exports or goods in transit as set out in the Presidency introductory note (details supplied) of 17 September 1996; the progress, if any, which has been made in relation to drafts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22610/96]
Noel Dempsey
Question:
101
Mr. Dempsey
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
the progress, if any, he has made to date in having an amendment to Article 100A of the EU Treaty accepted regarding the facilitating of national provisions under the Article as set out in the Presidency introductory note (details supplied) of 17 September 1996; the progress, if any, which has been made in relation to drafts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22612/96]
Noel Dempsey
Question:
102
Mr. Dempsey
asked the
asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, further to discussions in the EU under Ireland's Presidency in relation to the extension of qualified majority voting and/or co-decision, whether such issues will be considered in the wider context of institutional questions under the First Pillar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22617/96]
I propose taking Questions Nos. 98 to 102, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Florence European Council requested the Irish Presidency to bring forward for the Dublin European Council on 13-14 December "a general outline for a draft revision of the Treaties". The European Council has, of course, also decided that the Intergovernmental Conference should end not during the Irish Presidency but by the middle of next year. The Intergovernmental Conference has not, therefore, yet reached the stage of definitive agreement on the different areas under discussion.
Discussions during our Presidency have covered the full range of issues identified by successive European Councils for consideration by the Intergovernmental Conference. Such discussions have, wherever possible, focused on draft treaty texts put forward by us in our capacity as Presidency sometimes in the form of a range of options. The Presidency papers in question are forwarded to the Oireachtas Library.
The Minister for the Environment has, of course, primary responsibility for environment issues. Most recently, in reply to parliamentary questions on 30 October he set out Ireland's approach to the enhancement of the environment provisions of the treaty. Environment issues at the Intergovernmental Conference were first discussed under the Irish Presidency on the basis of the Presidency introductory note dated 17 September to which the Deputy has referred. The Presidency introductory note, which was discussed by Intergovernmental Conference representatives on 30 September, suggested that the environmental provisions of the treaty could be enhanced in two main ways; first, by including in the Treaty an explicit formulation of the Union's commitment to sustainable development; and second, by including in the Treaty a strengthened horizontal provision to ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into the sectoral policies of the Union.
At the meeting on 30 September, a broad measure of support was expressed by member states both as regards the incorporation in the treaty of the principle of sustainable development and as regards a strengthening of the integration principle. In the light of that meeting, the Presidency put forward in a document dated 22 October a suggested approach on the environment which was discussed by Intergovernmental Conference representatives on 29 October.
The Presidency's document suggested in the form of treaty language how the sustainable development and integration principles might be incorporated in the treaty. Again there was wide measure of support for the approach suggested. A key consideration remains that all treaty amendments must be approved unanimously by the member states at the Intergovernmental Conference. It is, therefore, too early to predict with certainty what the final outcome will be on issues under consideration. Some member states have expressed support for a reference to protection of the environment in Article 36 of the treaty and the Presidency introductory note dated 17 September reflected that fact. However, that particular option has not as yet attracted broad support at the Intergovernmental Conference.
As regards Article 100A, there is a broad view, shared by the Irish delegation, that any amendment of Article 100A should not call into question the present balance of that Article which is essential to avoid undermining the internal market. There is, however, an openness to clarifying and tightening up the provisions of Article 100A as they relate to the environment without in any way undermining the principles of the internal market.
The possible extension of qualified majority voting as well as the co-decision procedure is being addressed in the wider context of institutional questions under the First Pillar. The challenge is to ensure that the workings of the Union — the Council and its voting methods, the Commission and its composition, the European Parliament and its legislative role — are examined and if necessary adapted particularly in view of enlargement, while at the same time ensuring that the balances which have served the Union well are maintained.
While the conference has gone a long way towards identifying the issues and clarifying the different views of the member states on the various institutional questions, there is broad recognition that some of the more sensitive institutional questions such as the size of the Commission and voting weights in the Council will realistically only be resolved towards the end of the Conference. The Irish delegation will continue to take a positive approach to both the extension of qualified majority voting under the First Pillar and of the co-decision procedure subject to the necessary detailed examination of these issues when it takes place.
