Written Answers. - Intergovernmental Conference.
Seán Haughey
Question:
14
Mr. Haughey
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
the Government's reaction to the proposal made by the Dutch Commissioner for External Affairs at the Intergovernmental Conference that smaller EU member states should give up their foreign policy veto in exchange for a commitment by large countries to conduct their foreign policy through the EU.
[3221/97]
Tom Kitt
Question:
15
Mr. T. Kitt
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will give a progress report on the EU Intergovernmental Conference.
[2033/97]
Helen Keogh
Question:
24
Ms Keogh
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
the additional protections, if any, which will be afforded to people with disabilities through the revised EU Treaty emerging from the Intergovernmental Conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24679/96]
Seamus Brennan
Question:
25
Mr. S. Brennan
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
if, at the recent European Council meeting, he sought assurances that, post economic and monetary union and enlargement, Ireland's representation at the level of commissioner will be maintained at its current level.
[24238/96]
Bertie Ahern
Question:
36
Mr. B. Ahern
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
the steps, if any, he will take at Head of Government level to maintain the cohesion of the European Union in view of the strong differences of approach in the Intergovernmental Conference.
[2758/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 15, 24, 25 and 36 together.
The Intergovernmental Conference which is examining possible amendments to the Treaties establishing the European Union opened in March 1996. The European Council meeting in Florence in June 1996 reaffirmed the principal aims of the conference and requested the Irish Presidency to bring forward for the European Council meeting in Dublin in December "a general outline for a draft revision of the Treaties". As Deputies know, the Irish Presidency organised the work of the Intergovernmental Conference to that end and presented the outline draft treaty requested on 5 December. This was considered by a conclave of Foreign Ministers on 6 December and by the European Council meeting in Dublin on 13 and 14 December. The European Council accepted the document as a good basis for the work of the conference as the negotiations move into their final phase.
The Intergovernmental Conference has, of course, not yet reached the stage of definitive agreement on the issues under consideration. Negotiations are continuing under the Dutch Presidency and the conference remains set to conclude in Amsterdam in June. It is important to recall that all Treaty amendments must be approved unanimously by the member states at the Intergovernmental Conference.
I am confident that, notwithstanding the differences of approach between the member states, agreement will be reached on an outcome which preserves the coherence and cohesion of the Union. That was a primary aim of the Irish Presidency and remains central to the concerns of the Irish delegation. The further development of flexibility in the Union must ensure that the cohesion and coherence of the Union are maintained.
The outline draft treaty addresses the broad aims set for the Intergovernmental Conference, namely, to address the most direct concerns of citizens including in relation to employment and the fight against international crime, to develop an effective and coherent external policy, and to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the institutions, notably in the context of further enlargement. The document aims to explain clearly and precisely, not just to the participants at the conference but to the public more generally, the challenges which are being addressed and the solutions proposed. A copy of the document has been sent to the Oireachtas Library and to every Member of the Oireachtas.
As regards people with a disability, the outline draft treaty proposes the inclusion of a new Treaty provision which would allow the Council to take appropriate action to prohibit discrimination on various grounds including disability. The document also recalls for further consideration the proposal, initially brought forward by the Irish delegation, that provision might additionally be made in the Treaty to take special account of persons with a disability. Ireland will continue during the final phase of the Intergovernmental Conference negotiations to support a strengthening of the Treaty provisions in relation to disability. Any anti-discrimination provisions which are agreed should include nondiscrimination on the grounds of disability.
Membership of the Commission is one of a number of very sensitive institutional issues being discussed at the Intergovernmental Conference. The final outcome on these sensitive institutional questions is not likely to become clear until the final stage of the negotiations. The Irish Presidency's outline draft treaty includes an analysis of these issues and touches on the main options under consideration. We accepted the general view of our partners that it would not have been appropriate to put forward specific Treaty texts on these issues at this stage.
Ireland has repeatedly made clear at the Intergovernmental Conference its view that the further enlargement of the Union should not have any implications for the right of every member state to nominate a full member of the European Commission. We and several other member states believe that it is central to the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Commission that each member state should continue to be entitled to nominate a full member of the Commission. Members of the Commission, of course, do not act as national representatives. It is, however, important that the Commission in reaching its decisions should be fully aware of the sensitivities in all member states and be seen to be aware of those sensitivities.
There is a degree of support emerging for a strengthening of the powers of the President of the Commission and for examining the internal organisation and structures of the Commission with a view to possible improvements.
With regard to the review of the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy, the outline draft treaty recognised that the Union must enhance its capacity to ensure that its external action is effective in all its aspects if it is to play an international role commensurate with its responsibilities and its economic capacity. The document put forward proposals for streamlining procedures in respect of the three inter-connected phases of the foreign policy process — preparation, adoption and implementation of decisions. It suggested that existing decision-making procedures might be improved by extending the use of qualified majority voting except for Joint Actions and decisions with security and defence implications, subject to the proviso that if a member state opposed the adoption of a decision by qualified majority, no vote would be taken. A provision was made for referral of such matters to the European Council for decision by unanimity. We also provided in the draft outline treaty for the introduction of a "constructive abstention" clause, whereby a member state opposed to a decision requiring unanimity could abstain where there was a qualified majority in favour.
In preparing the draft texts on decision-making, we sought to reconcile the need for more effective decision-making with that of maintaining widespread support in member states for the Union's foreign policy. The involvement of all member states in decision-making in CFSP is essential if the Union's foreign policy is to be credible, sustainable and have the necessary international impact.
No proposal has been tabled at the conference by the Commission or by any other delegation to the effect that smaller EU member states should give up their foreign policy veto in exchange for a commitment by the large countries to conduct their foreign policy through the EU. Such a proposal if it were tabled, would of course not be acceptable to the Irish delegation.
