Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Apr 2003

Vol. 565 No. 1

Written Answers. - EU Presidency.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

96 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the preparations being made for the Irish Presidency of the EU during 2004; the areas he expects will be the priorities for the period of the Irish presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9855/03]

John Bruton

Question:

131 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the organisational structures and preparations that are in place to prepare for Ireland's Presidency of the EU in 2004. [9946/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 131 together.

Preparation for the Irish Presidency of the EU started in late 2001 and is increasing in intensity as the Presidency approaches. It involves enhanced ministerial and interdepartmental co-ordination, contacts with previous and future presidencies and enhanced contacts at all levels with the EU institutions and with current and new member states.

Two interdepartmental committees were established in 2001, chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs, to co-ordinate the preparations for the Presidency. The interdepartmental committee for co-ordinating the Presidency deals with programming and policy related matters and the inter-departmental administrative planning group deals with logistical planning. Both groups report through the Department of Foreign Affairs to the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on European Union affairs and to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on European Affairs. In addition, the Department of the Taoiseach chairs an interdepartmental Lisbon Group which will co-ordinate preparations for the Spring European Council.

Preparation in a number of areas including the calendar of Council meetings and the compilation of the list of chairpersons and national delegates for committees and working groups is already well advanced. In addition a series of high level visits have been taking place, with the presidency as a principal focus, to current and future member states.

The additional staff resources required for the Presidency are being put in place and the Centre for Management and Organisation Development, CMOD, at the Department of Finance is currently conducting a wide range of training courses to train staff at all levels for the presidency. Work is also well advanced on the development of a Presidency logo and website.

Work on the development of the presidency programme is taking place against the background of the decisions taken at the Seville European Council in June 2002 with regard to improving the functioning of the Council. In accordance with the Seville conclusions, a three year multi-annual strategic programme, drawn up by the six presidencies concerned, will be adopted by the European Council in December 2003. In the light of this, an annual operating programme for 2004 drawn up jointly by the Irish and Netherlands' presidencies will be adopted by the General Affairs and External Relations Council in December 2003. The Irish Presidency programme for the first six months of next year should be seen in the context of these processes.

Work in relation to Ireland's presidency priorities is ongoing. While the process is still at an early stage we can already anticipate a number of key issues that will feature on the Union's agenda in 2004. These include enlargement with the accession of the new member states on 1 May 2004, the ongoing accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania and the development of relations with Turkey; the conduct and possible conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Future of Europe, depending on decisions to be taken by the European Council in the light of the outcome of the Convention on the Future of Europe; progressing the Lisbon Agenda, which is aimed at advancing economic reform and competitiveness at the Spring European Council in March 2004 and the implementation of agreed commitments in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice by the treaty deadline of 1 May 2004.

We can also anticipate a heavy agenda in the external relations area. In the light of the current international situation, transatlantic relations will be high on the agenda, as will international and regional issues such as Iraq, the Middle East, the Western Balkans, North Korea as well as ongoing crises in other parts of Asia and Africa. Relations with Russia and our other neighbours to the East will be intensified as the EU completes this enlargement, and relations with Latin America and the Caribbean will be high on our agenda in preparation for a EU-LAC summit in Mexico in May.

Other issues will emerge in the coming months across the whole range of the EU agenda depending on the progress made during the preceding Greek and Italian presidencies and in the light of the conclusions of the European Councils which will take place later this year.

Question No. 97 answered with Question No. 85.