We will deal with the draft treaty articles because we have seven days in which to respond to them. We should also deal with economic governance and social Europe today. Is that agreed?
Business of Joint Committee.
The pace at which things will develop will make it very difficult for the committee to keep abreast of everything.
My understanding is that this agenda was sent out early in the week and that everyone has it. There are four items on the agenda: economic governance; freedom, security and justice; incorporating the Charter of Fundamental Rights; and social Europe.
The convention subsequently reported on the articles on Friday and we said we should have some discussion on that because the members have seven days to respond. There are now five items on the agenda.
I suggest we take the charter with Articles 1-16, because the incorporation of the charter is dealt with in those articles. To deal with the report separately would be entirely artificial. You can decide after that, Chairman, whether you want to take the others.
I am not claiming I did not get the notice. I was away attending the convention for most of the period since the notice went out so I have not prepared anything in particular on justice and home affairs, which is the committee I chaired at the convention. However, I am happy to talk about that area if the committee wishes to deal with it today. I have no difficulty dealing with that; I have dealt with it at other committees.
It would be my advice to take the agenda in these three groups: Articles 1-16, incorporating the charter; economic and social governance, because they more or less cover the same questions; and then justice and home affairs, whenever you wish to do that.
Deputy, you are suggesting we take the charter with the articles, economic governance with social affairs and maybe defer freedom, security and justice, or take it now.
That would suit me.