John Bruton
Question:10 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to Austria. [13376/98]
Written Answers. - Ministerial Meetings.
John Bruton
Question:11 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the preparatory meetings, if any, he will have before the European Council meeting in Cardiff, Wales, in June 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13377/98]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:12 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to Austria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13394/98]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:13 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the issues he intends to raise at the European summit at Cardiff, Wales, on 15 and 16 June 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13398/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:14 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his visit to Austria and his meeting with the Austrian Prime Minister. [13403/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:15 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach his priorities for the summit of EU leaders in Cardiff, Wales; the plans, if any, he has to meet other EU heads of Government in advance of the summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13507/98]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:16 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach when the next Irish Commissioner to the European Commission will be nominated by the Government to the Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13689/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 16, inclusive, together.
I met in Vienna, on 4 June last, the Austrian Chancellor, Mr. Viktor Klima, who will become President in Office of the European Union on 1 July 1998.
We discussed a wide range of European issues, including the forthcoming European Council in Cardiff and the priorities for the Austrian Presidency of the European Union during the second half of this year.
The Austrian Presidency will have the task of completing the final stage of preparations for the introduction of the euro, and this commenced on 4 June last, with the inaugural meeting of the Euro-XI group in Luxembourg. In addition, it will fall to the Austrian Presidency to make substantial progress on the Agenda 2000 negotiations.
In relation to Agenda 2000, I outlined to Chancellor Klima Ireland's position on the Commission's current proposals on Structural and Cohesion Funds. I re-emphasised the need for generous transitional arrangements for Ireland under the Structural Funds and our opposition to the Commission proposals for CAP reform as they currently stand. It is this Government's intention to pursue real improvements on the terms on offer.
My visit to Austria is a continuation of a structured programme of consultations with the leaders of other member states on a range of European Union issues in preparation, among other things, for the detailed negotiations on Agenda 2000.
The preparations for the European Council are a matter in the first instance for the member state holding the Presidency. As regards the forthcoming European Council in Cardiff on 15 and 16 June next, following my recent meeting with Prime Minister Blair it is clear that key items to be discussed will include the Agenda 2000 negotiations, broad economic guidelines for the Union and the national employment action plans, EU enlargement and the future shape of the Union. Other important issues to be covered will be the progress being made in relation to the Union's policies on drugs and organised crime.
I have had discussions on issues for the European Council in my recent meetings with Chancellor Klima, Prime Ministers Lipponen, Aznar and Blair and on Tuesday, 9 June last, in Lisbon with Prime Minister Gutterres of Portugal.
The term of office of the current European Commission does not expire until the end of 1999. The question of who will represent Ireland on the next European Commission will be considered by the Government closer to that date.