Vol. 395 No. 4
4 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of EPC meetings which are scheduled to take place during the Irish EC Presidency, the agenda of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
During the Irish Presidency three EPC ministerial meetings are scheduled, one of them the informal weekend meeting. The agenda of those meetings is not set this far in advance and will largely be a function of international developments. Obviously events in Central and Eastern Europe and the future shape of our continent will be a leading priority, but the other priorities will include human rights, the Middle East, South Africa, Central America and the promotion of a political solution in Cambodia. As the Deputy will be aware, in addition to the normal programme of ministerial meetings, the Presidency also called an informal ministerial meeting on 20 Janaury to discuss the Twelve's response to these events.
In addition to the meetings at Ministerial level, at official level there will be monthly meetings of the Political Committee and some 40 meetings of EPC working groups during the course of the six months. These working groups include some which deal with specific geographical regions and some which deal with particular subjects such as the conference on security and Disarmament in Europe and Non-Proliferation. The agenda of these meetings, like all consultations within EPC, is confidential.
Apart from this there are many hundreds of meetings which take place within the framework of EPC each semester between EC missions in third countries, within the United Nations and other fora.
I am grateful to the Minister for his detailed reply. Does the Minister accept that the EPC process and procedures now in place since the Single European Act have a separate secretariat attached to them? In that regard I want to ask him very directly, in so far as I understand that the recent informal meetings of Foreign Ministers and political directors was an innovation in the process, when there will be an opportunity for the elected Members of this House to have access to the workings of the EPC secretariat. What I am really asking is whether the Presidency will be an open Presidency for us also.
With regard to the meeting at ministerial level which took place in Dublin Castle in January, a series of conclusions on the different issues discussed at that meeting was presented by me on behalf of the Twelve after that meeting. There is no question whatsoever but that this was an elaborate set of conclusions which was accepted by all those who were present at the time. I think something in the region of 300 journalists accepted what I said at that time. If the Deputy wishes I can make arrangments to let him have a note on the outcome of the meeting which I am sure will be helpful to him.
I am grateful to the Minister for his offer of co-operation but I want to re-emphasise my point. If the Minister looks at the balance of the meetings which will take place during the Irish Presidency, and in the context of the European Community, he will see that there is an enormous number of EPC meetings. My point is a legal one; the EPC process assumed a separate secretariat from the Single European Act and it is the right of the elected members of these Houses to have access in some way or another, for example, by way of summary report, to the workings and proceedings of the EPC process. It is not sufficient to say that journalists were present for the press communique afterwards. I am simply saying that this House should enjoy the rights of elected members all over Europe have to the openess I have referred to. Perhaps an initiative can be taken during the Irish Presidency so that reports of these meetings can be presented to us here for our perusal and consideration.
I thank Deputy Higgins for his comments on this issue. I note his appreciation of the fact that I am prepared to let him have a note on the outcome of the meeting.
With respect, I find it insufficient.
Of course the Deputy would. I did not think he would find it totally satisfactory. Having regard to the nature of the Deputy's original question I will have due regard to what he has said to see how best I can facilitate him.
