Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 3

Written Answers. - EU Meetings.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

3 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of European political committee meetings that are expected to be held during Ireland's Presidency of the EU; the agenda for such meetings; whether the elected members of Dáil Éireann will have access to the outcome of such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17218/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

At present ten meetings of the Political Committee are scheduled during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. Additional meetings may be convened if required in the light of international developments.

The Political Committee is composed of senior civil servants from each of the EU member states and the Commission. It is responsible for monitoring the international situation in the areas covered by the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and reports and makes recommendations to the Council of Ministers on matters of interest and concern to the European Union in these areas. In this respect, its role is analogous to the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), which prepares meetings of the Council of Ministers in relation to economic and other matters covered by the Community Treaties.

It is not the practice to make public the proceedings of such committees, which are essentially concerned with the preparation for Council meetings, at which Ministers discuss and seek to reach decisions on the issues involved. I have arranged for copying to the Library of the Houses of the Oireachtas of the published conclusions of the Council.