EU Treaties.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2004

Tuesday, 15 June 2004

Questions (150)

Gay Mitchell

Question:

201 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the proposal for a social clause through an additional Article III-2a, in the draft constitutional treaty will be accepted as part of the final text of the treaty; his further views on whether the proposal to amend the text of Article III-6 to ensure the competence of member states to provide, commission and fund services of general economic interest will be incorporated into the final text of the treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17484/04]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

Proposals to include a social clause through a new Article III-2a and an amended Article III-6 were included as part of Document CIG 79/04 circulated by the Presidency on 10 June last. This document covered those technical issues on which the Presidency considered a broad consensus had been reached and on which it was seeking confirmation from partners that no fundamental problems existed in advance of this week's final meeting of the IGC. Following yesterday's meeting of Foreign Ministers, the Presidency believes a broad consensus exists in favour of the inclusion of these two articles. A formal decision on their inclusion, however, will be made in the context of an overall agreement on the new constitutional treaty.