As set out in my reply to Question No. 68 of 18 October, Ireland supports the transparent and open approach as regards access to EU information which is embodied in the Amsterdam Treaty. Restrictions on the availability of information should be kept to a necessary minimum. However, in the context of the development of European security and defence policy, there is also a need to ensure the protection of certain sensitive information.
Against this background, Ireland was among a large majority of member states who accepted proposals made last July by the French Presidency, on the advice of Secretary General-High Representative Solana, by which public access to certain categories of EU Council secretariat documentation concerning the development of the European Union's means for military and non-military crisis management would be restricted on an interim basis.
Since then, work under the French Presidency has taken place at official level and is progressing towards the adoption of more definitive arrangements for access to documents in accordance with Article 255 of the EU Treaty. Throughout these negotiations, Ireland has followed the approach which I have outlined above. I understand that the presidency is now considering whether the matter is sufficiently advanced to permit consideration by Ministers for Foreign Affairs at the meeting of the General Affairs Council on 4 December.
I am aware of the positions of certain member states, of certain members of the European Parliament and of legal proceedings which are currently under way before the Court of Justice. However, I would point out that the regulation is also subject to co-decision between the council and the European Parliament. In this context, I am confident that current and future negotiations will result in long-term arrangements satisfactory to all concerned.
In accordance with the deadline specified by the treaty, these negotiations are scheduled to be concluded by May 2001. In the interim it is not intended at this stage that Ireland should become involved in the proceedings to which the Deputy refers.
