John Bruton
Question:18 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU Heads of Government meeting in Vienna on 23 and 24 October 1998. [21039/98]
Written Answers. - EU Meetings.
John Bruton
Question:19 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he has raised the issue of the proposed abolition of duty free sales in the European Union with the German Chancellor-elect, Mr. Schröder, when he met him in Vienna on 23 and 24 October 1998. [21041/98]
Joe Higgins
Question:20 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings and talks at the recent informal EU summit. [21093/98]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:21 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with other EU Heads of State in Austria recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21115/98]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:22 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach to report on his meeting with the President of the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21116/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:23 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU summit in Austria. [21610/98]
Austin Deasy
Question:24 Mr. Deasy asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to visit Germany to meet with Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. [21691/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 24, inclusive, together.
The EU Heads of State or Government and the President of the Commission had an informal meeting in Pörtschach in Austria on 24-25 October. As had been decided in advance, given the nature of the meeting, no formal decisions were taken and no written conclusions were issued. A number of essentially forward looking questions were addressed at the meeting. Among these are the issues raised at Cardiff last June, namely, the economic role which Europe should play in a global economy; and consideration of how best the Union can be represented externally, including the mechanisms available to co-ordinate policy in this area.
The meeting commenced with a session with President Arafat who briefed the Heads of State or Government on the Wye Plantation Agreement which had been concluded the previous day. President Arafat thanked the EU for its role in the Peace Process and stressed that the parties involved in the process continued to require the assistance of the European Union.
Mr. Gil Robles, President of the European Parliament, joined the meeting for its next session. His address focused on the role which the European Parliament can play in the issues facing the Union. He emphasised four themes: the current economic situation in Europe, particularly in the context of the introduction of the Euro; internal and external security matters; harmonising social policy; and democratic legitimacy of the European Union.
The President of the General Affairs Council, Mr. Wulfgang Schuessel, joined the next session of the meeting. He raised a number of institutional issues which had been discussed previously at the General Affairs Council (GAC).
The next part of the meeting commenced with presentations from the Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok; Prime Minister Aznar of Spain; and Prime Minister Blair of the United Kingdom. The discussion which began in this way was continued over dinner. I would like to touch on some of the key issues which were raised in those discussions and which were addressed again in the final session on Sunday morning, and to indicate the approach which I adopted.
On the issues arising out of the Cardiff conclusions such as democratic legitimacy and subsidiarity, I indicated that Ireland supports any moves that would bring the European citizen closer to and have a greater sense of ownership of the European Union. I stressed however, that on these and other ideas designed to bring Europe closer to the citizen, we feel that the most practical way forward is the entry into force and full implementation of the Treaty of Amsterdam which contains relevant and useful, if modest, steps in that direction.
In relation to economic policy co-ordination within the EU, I indicated that we are already well served through the institutional arrangements and the various instruments already in place. However, I acknowledged that economic and fiscal co-ordination is essential if we are to have an effective response to crises and, indeed, for EMU to succeed. I emphasised that the Stability and Growth Pact sets out the overall framework for fiscal policies and that stability programmes will set out our individual national approaches. I stated that existing surveillance procedures should be fully utilised. The existing procedures for assessing member states fiscal and economic policies should be given time to develop before considering further changes. I pointed out that Ireland accepts the need to assess the effectiveness of the European Union response, both internally and externally, to a changing international economic situation and to seek improvements where necessary while maintaining the integrity of the institutions and procedures already in place.
On the issue of co-ordinating fiscal policy and tax harmonisation, a number of countries proposed the notion of a common tax level throughout the EU. However, it is also true to say that other countries, such as ourselves, have very strong views that tax rates should continue to be decided at a national level.
On the issue of the role and reform of the GAC, I stressed that in any examination of the role of the Council, Ireland would be concerned that the central link between the General Affairs Council and the European Council be maintained. In this respect, reforms should be oriented towards making this link more direct, more dynamic and more efficient.
In this context, I expressed support for splitting the agenda of the GAC into a two day session dealing with horizontal issues and external relations, respectively. However, I emphasised that there is a need to bear in mind that reorganisation is no substitute for the political determination to make a system work and it must work if the Union is to master the immediate challenges it faces. I also expressed Ireland's support for a rationalisation of the number of council formations.
In relation to internal security, I stressed that this is a sensitive and important area of work within the EU at the moment and that Ireland is satisfied that it is being addressed in the context of an EU action plan for the area of freedom, security and justice which is proceeding in the Justice and Home Affairs Council. I pointed out that Ireland considers that the best means of advancing the security of the European Union lies in the development of the action plan which will also include provisions regarding the EU's relationship with third countries. The incorporation of the Schengen Agreement into the Amsterdam Treaty is also a complex institutional and legal issue and while Ireland is currently outside the Schengen Agreement, we are closely monitoring developments in this area. It was decided that the Finnish Presidency would host a special summit on justice and home affairs issues.
I indicated that Ireland attaches great importance to EU wide measures to combat issues such as crime and drug trafficking. I also expressed support for the ongoing work on the initiative by the Austrian Presidency for the development of an EU strategy paper on migration and asylum policy.
The meeting raised the challenge of how the European Union can enhance its action for peace and stability in crises such as Kosovo. It was acknowledged that the EU has a significant combined influence politically, diplomatically and economically. It was agreed that an increased focus should be given to combining that influence so that it is used as effectively as possible. On the issue of a high representative for CFSP, I stressed that Ireland believes that this role should be filled by a person with strong political skills and with extensive experience of the EU and its institutions and preferably come from one of the smaller member states.
On the issue of the Amsterdam Treaty, there was broad agreement that member states should seek to implement those conventions agreed but not yet ratified and also that the fundamental rights of citizens must be protected.
The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, attended for the first part of the meeting only. Accordingly, I did not have the opportunity to meet privately with him. However, I look forward to an early opportunity to do so before the German Presidency of the EU commences on 1 January next year. While the President of the Commission attended the meeting, I did not hold any private discussions with him.