I thank the Chairman, and I know the committee members are under pressure today. I support the comments by the Chairman about this committee not being broadcast. There is something fundamentally bizarre about that. For many years, the broadcast media were very critical, and rightly so, that the Dáil was not accessible, and now, when it is accessible, as is the Seanad, it is very odd that those media are not interested in broadcasting proceedings particularly as this is a critical week for Europe. That speaks volumes about the people who make those decisions. I am pleased to appear again before the committee to review the agenda for the General Affairs and External Relations Council which takes place in Brussels on Monday next. I propose to deal, as usual, with the session on general affairs first before moving on to the external relations issues.
According to the Seville European Council conclusions, the General Affairs and External Relations Council is responsible for drawing up the draft annotated agenda for the European Council. The preparation for the European Council will accordingly be the main item on the general affairs agenda on Monday. We have already made significant progress in this regard, a theme to which I will return. We have circulated to partners a revised draft of the annotated agenda outlining the issues for discussion by heads of state or government at the European Council. A copy of this document has been forwarded to the committee for information. There was a constructive discussion on that at COREPER yesterday, and a revised version incorporating the result of that discussion will be circulated today for consideration by Ministers on Monday. As the Chairman said, the focus of the Irish Presidency's approach to Lisbon is to stop talking, get ahead and start acting on specific key areas on which we believe progress can be made.
The Presidency has indicated that it intends to limit the agenda for the European Council to the Lisbon strategy, the Presidency report on the Intergovernmental Conference, terrorism, the international situation and a small number of "any other business" items, including procedural conclusions in the financial perspectives and a proposal by the Belgian Government that the European Council use the residence palace building for its meetings after it has been refurbished. The European Council will begin next Thursday evening with a discussion on terrorism. That will be followed by a discussion by Heads of State or Government on the prospects for further progress in the IGC. The morning session on 26 March will be devoted to the Lisbon strategy of social, economic and environmental renewal. There may also be some discussion of the international situation.
Last week's terrible and cowardly attacks in Madrid are a chilling reminder of the threat that terrorism poses to civilised and democratic societies. Speaking on behalf of the EU, the Taoiseach condemned those desperate acts. In doing so, he expressed our solidarity with the Spanish people and reiterated the EU's determination to combat all forms of terrorism in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations. As the committee is aware, the European security strategy adopted by the European Council last December identified terrorism as one of the key threats to EU interests. The attacks last week underscore the need for the EU to redouble its efforts to counter this international scourge.
In his statement following the attacks on 15 March, the Taoiseach outlined a package of measures to counter terrorism which, as holders of the Presidency, we will bring to the European Council next week for agreement. Those proposals will be set out in a draft Council declaration on combating terrorism. The draft declaration aims to build on existing co-operation through legislative pleasures, reinforcing operational co-operation, maximising the effectiveness of information systems and strengthening border controls and document security.
The Taoiseach has proposed that member states agree to implement the solidarity clause proposed in the draft constitutional treaty. As members will be aware, the solidarity clause aims to facilitate member states' co-operation in the prevention of terrorist attacks as well as the provision of assistance to a member state which is the victim of an attack. The establishment of the position of a counter-terrorism co-ordinator is proposed to enhance co-ordination of member states' efforts in the area further and to bring forward new measures.
The declaration also addresses issues such as the sharing of intelligence, the financing of terrorism, measures to protect transport and population, assistance to victims and international co-operation, in particular with the US and other partners. The draft declaration is being discussed by Justice and Home Affairs Ministers at their meeting as we speak. The proposals will then be taken up by foreign ministers on Monday before Heads of State and Government discuss them on Thursday.
The IGC is not itself on the agenda of the Council but will arise in the context of preparations for the European Council. In accordance with the mandate received at the European Council in Brussels last December, the Taoiseach will report to his colleagues on the prospects for further progress in the IGC. The European Council will then discuss how best to proceed. It would not be appropriate for me at this stage to speculate as to what the Taoiseach's report might contain. Our consultations and contacts with partners are continuing and we will not be coming to any final decisions on the content of the report until that process is concluded.
The committee will, however, wish to be aware that we have been pleased and encouraged by the support that we, as holders of the Presidency, have received from partners in our efforts to advance the agenda. There is recognition that it would be desirable to make progress and, if possible, conclude the IGC as soon as possible, and that delay would not make agreement easier to reach at a later stage, something that we previously discussed at this committee. Our consultations have been positive and constructive, and we have a deeper appreciation of the concerns of all our partners. We also have a greater understanding of where scope for compromise might lie.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs will brief colleagues in general terms at next Monday's Council. We intend to circulate the report before the European Council. While final decisions have not been made, we envisage a short report containing a summary account of the work done to date and our overall assessment of the state of play. It is not expected to contain detailed specific proposals. The Taoiseach will expand on the report at the dinner with his colleagues, focusing on the prospects for progress, and would hope to have an open discussion. Members of the committee may be assured that we will not hesitate to seize the chance to make progress if we believe that a window of opportunity exists.
The morning session of the European Council on 26 March will be devoted to the annual review of the Lisbon strategy. Partners have agreed with our aim of focusing on a limited number of issues and concentrating on two specific areas, growth and jobs. Our first priority - sustainable growth - includes action to promote competitiveness, innovation and greater respect for the environment through greater support for environmental technologies. With regard to our second priority - employment, Heads of State or Government will consider how we can increase the adaptability of companies and workers, improve labour force participation and invest more effectively in education and training.
At this month's Council, Ministers will return to the subject of Iran - especially the nuclear issue - in light of last week's meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors. On 13 March 2004, the board adopted by consensus a resolution on the issue of Iran's nuclear programme critical of omissions in Iran's statements and of new discoveries regarding that country's nuclear activities. At the same time, it notes progress in Iran's co-operation with the agency, its signature of the additional protocol and its suspension of centrifuge activities. It calls for further consideration of the matter at the June meeting of the board following the next report by the director general of the IAEA. The Council will consider the outcome of the March meeting and look ahead to the next report of the director general in May.
On the Middle East, the Minister, Deputy Cowen, will present to colleagues an interim report on the work on developing a strategy towards the region. That work is based on a mandate from the European Council in December. The development of a strategy towards the Middle East region is also one of the four areas for initial action under the European security strategy, which was also adopted at last December's European Council. The report, which will be delivered by the Minister, details the existing framework for the EU's relations with the Arab world, including the EuroMed process and the European neighbourhood policy, while setting out the future aims of the EU for the region. We intend to build upon existing structures which have proved successful in facilitating constructive engagement between the EU and the region. A central consideration underpinning the policy is the EU's common view that the solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict remains an essential and strategic objective for the EU in its engagement with the region. We are conscious of the need to ensure the European Union's friends and partners in the region are consulted on the development of this strategy. We have already begun this process through our continuing bilateral contacts and will continue to do so in the months ahead.
In this regard the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs will attend the Arab League summit in Tunis at the end of March 2004. The Taoiseach is expected to address the summit in his capacity as President of the European Union. Both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, will also avail of the opportunity to meet with other heads of state and government attending the summit and to consult them on the strategy.
The final strategy is scheduled for adoption at the June 2004 European Council meeting. Preparations are also well under way for the forthcoming Asia-European Foreign Affairs Ministers' meeting, which will be held in Ireland on 17 and 18 April. We have good indications of ministerial attendance from both sides. This is particularly significant given the concerns expressed by the Asian side about falling attendance by EU Ministers. At the Council Ministers are likely to discuss enlargement of ASEM and the question of Burma-Myanmar, probably the greatest challenge currently facing the ASEM process.
As the Presidency we will continue to engage with both EU and Asian partners in an effort to find a common approach on the issue of ASEM enlargement. ASEM is a particularly important forum for dialogue in that it provides an opportunity for co-operation and open exchanges between Europe and Asia across a whole range of political, economic and cultural issues, including regional and international issues of common concern.
Preparation for the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights is also on the agenda. The EU is firmly convinced that promoting human rights, democratisation and the rule of law promotes peace and stability. The EU attaches great importance to the commission as the primary UN body dealing with human rights. The EU will present a specific number of country and thematic initiatives at the UN Commission on Human Rights. The thematic resolutions to be presented will address the issue of the death penalty and the rights of the child jointly with Latin American and the Caribbean countries, and the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance.
The country specific resolutions will include ones on the human rights situations in Burma-Myanmar, North Korea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Russian Federation - specifically Chechnya, Sudan and Zimbabwe - as well as the question of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. In addition the Union will propose initiatives on Turkmenistan and Belarus jointly with the United States. The European Union will also initiate UNCHR statements on Colombia and East Timor.
The expressions of the Union's concerns in regard to human rights situations in countries will not be confined to formal resolutions. In traditional statements under agenda item No. 9, human rights situations in various parts of the world, the European Union will refer to a number of country's situations in the context of a thematic approach. The Presidency intends to keep this draft as concise and targeted as possible to ensure the maximum impact. In this statement the Presidency will address the situation of human rights in China and Iran, among other countries.
Turning to the western Balkans, in their regular discussion on the western Balkans, Ministers will review the current situation in Serbia and Montenegro following the formation of a minority coalition Government in Serbia on 2 March 2004. Also, on Monday the Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will present his country's application for EU membership to the Taoiseach in Dublin. Ministers will discuss developments in Macedonia in the context of its application for EU membership and in the light of the recent tragic death of the Macedonian President.
Ministers will also review the situation on Kosovo in light of the violence there in recent days. The immediate priority is that calm be restored. The disturbances in Kosovo underline the importance of continued EU engagement in the stabilisation and development of the western Balkans region as a whole and, in particular, in bringing forward the work under way to ensure a stable future for a secure, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo with its place in Europe.
Turning to ESDP, the committee will be aware that it is proposed that the European Security and Development policy will be discussed at this month's Council on the basis of a report by High Representative Solana on EU rapid response capability. However, this is not yet available and, accordingly, the item has been deferred to a later date. Ministers will instead be invited to approve without discussion short procedural conclusions which underline the European Union's willingness to take forward work on this issue as a matter of priority. This is an issue of particular relevance to the EU's relations with the United Nations in the area of crisis management and was specifically welcomed by UN Secretary General Annan during his meeting with the Minister, Deputy Cowen, in Brussels on 28 January 2004.
As it is envisaged that the enhanced EU rapid response capacity should have a particular role in supporting the UN in crisis management, the Presidency and High Representative Solana's office are pursuing the necessary contacts with the United Nations on an on-going basis with a view to seeing suitable arrangements put in place as soon as possible.
There will be a number of items in the margins of the Council. The Council of Europe quadripartite meeting, the 20th such meeting between the Council of European and the European Union, will take place on the margins of this month's Council meeting. The meeting will provide an opportunity to exchange views on the role of both organisations whilst stressing the importance of identifying areas of complementarity and possible division of labour. The planned Council of Europe summit in 2005 will also be discussed, as will the situations in Belarus, in the southern Caucases, specifically Georgia, and in the western Balkans.
I will once again be happy to answer any questions members of the committee wish to raise.
