Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Jul 1998

Vol. 493 No. 5

Written Answers. - EU General Affairs Council.

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

19 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent proposal to split the EU General Affairs Council into two councils, one to deal with foreign affairs and the other to co-ordinate internal policy. [16487/98]

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

26 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's position on the proposal that the functions of the General Affairs Council of the EU should be split in two, one dealing with foreign policy issues and the other with co-ordination matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16350/98]

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

65 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent proposal to split the EU General Affairs Council into two councils, one to deal with foreign affairs and the other to co-ordinate internal policy. [16490/98]

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

69 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent proposal to split the EU General Affairs Council into two councils, one to deal with foreign affairs and the other to co-ordinate internal policy. [16488/98]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

74 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent proposal to split the EU General Affairs Council into two councils, one to deal with foreign affairs and the other to co-ordinate internal policy. [16489/98]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 26, 65, 69 and 74 together.

At the Cardiff European Council, Heads of State or Government held a wide-ranging luncheon discussion about the future development of the European Union, against the background of the important policy developments during the past year. The European Council agreed to deepen discussion at an informal meeting of Heads of State and Government and the President of the Commission, probably in late October, and to consider how best to prepare for these issues to be considered at the Vienna European Council.

Commission and Council initiatives to improve their own effectiveness and functioning were among the elements in the discussion at Cardiff. The Council and the Commission were invited to report on progress on these issues in the next Presidency. One of the major concerns identified by member states at the European Council, and indeed a recurring theme at the General Affairs Council (GAC) itself over the past year, has been the need to improve the workings of the GAC. One idea floated as a means of assisting the General Affairs Council with its extensive workload was that of splitting the GAC so as to separate external relations issues from its co-ordination functions.

The working arrangements of the Council, notably the General Affairs Council (GAC), will be discussed by Foreign Ministers at the informal ministerial meeting in Salzburg in September on the basis of an interim report by the Secretary-General of the Council. Foreign Ministers deliberations on this issue will, no doubt, constitute a useful input to the informal meeting of Heads of State or Government in October.

There is no doubt that the operation of the GAC could be improved and Ireland is open to proposals for reform of its working methods. A number of reports on the functioning of the GAC are in preparation by the Council Secretariat. We will study these carefully when they become available as well as all other proposals put forward and we will then take a view on how the working methods of Council and in particular the General Affairs Council might best be improved. However, we would see a continued clear need for one single body to take a strategic overview of the ongoing EU agenda. I believe the General Affairs Council is best placed to exercise this co-ordinating role in addition to its external relations function. I am not sure therefore that the way forward is to consider the creation of another Council or Committee.