David Stanton
Question:77 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the priorities he intends to set for Ireland's EU Presidency in 2004. [21518/02]
Written Answers. - EU Presidency.
Ireland's first priority will be to conduct an efficient and effective Presidency, which will be taking place in the context of the major changes expected in the Union in 2004. Planning and development of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union for the first half of 2004 has already begun and is taking place against the background of decisions taken at the Seville European Council last June. While decisions on priorities will be made much closer to the date of the Presidency, there is already a number of key issues on the Union's agenda for 2004. These include: enlargement; the possible conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference; the Lisbon Agenda at the spring European Council in March 2004; the treaty deadline for the completion of the area of freedom, justice and security – 1 May 2004; and the negotiations in the WTO development round due for completion in January 2005.
The priorities of our Presidency of the Council of the European Union will also to some extent depend on the progress made, and on the developments which become apparent, in the closing months of the Italian Presidency. The evolutionary nature of the Union's agenda can be expected to develop and evolve right up to the eve of our Presidency.