John Bruton
Ceist:17 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the communications, if any, he has had with the new Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr. Racan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4851/00]
Vol. 515 No. 1
17 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the communications, if any, he has had with the new Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr. Racan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4851/00]
18 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the preparatory meetings, if any, he will have prior to his attendance at the Special European Council on Employment in Lisbon on 23 and 24 March 2000; if he has received an agenda for the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4852/00]
19 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the preparatory meetings, if any, he will have prior to his attendance at the EU/Africa Summit in Cairo on 3 and 4 April 2000; if he has received an agenda for the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4853/00]
20 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the terms of the letter he sent to Commissioner Prodi and members of the European Council on the matter of the spread of HIV-AIDS, particularly in Africa; the replies, if any, he has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5089/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 20, inclusive, together.
I have not yet had any communications with Mr. Ivico Racan, the new Croatian Prime Minister, who has been in office for just under a month.
I will meet with Prime Minister Guterres on 28 February as part of his tour of capitals to discuss the content of the Special European Council which is taking place in Lisbon on 23-24 March. The Cabinet committee on EU affairs has already discussed the summit in detail at its last meeting on 8 February. No formal agenda has been made available in advance of the summit but a series of correspondence papers and meetings have taken place between the presidency and partners. Apart from particular input at two special preparatory meetings in Lisbon and Brussels of Prime Ministers' representatives, officials from my Department have held discussions around the general themes of employment, social exclusion and also knowledge and innovation in the Information Society with visiting Portuguese, UK and Swedish delegations. However, in addition to the focus on employment, it is likely that other matters of a current nature will be discussed, and that the Presidency will wish to update partners in relation to the Intergovernmental Conference and CFSP developments, both of which will be discussed in more detail at the June meeting of the European Council. An opportunity to review progress on the Charter of Fundamental Rights will also be available.
I plan to hold a meeting of the Cabinet committee on EU affairs immediately in advance of my departure for the summit. I expect that this meeting will also consider preparations for the Euro-African Cairo Summit which is scheduled to take place on 3 and 4 April. It has been agreed that the agenda for the first summit between the Heads of State or Government of the European Union and Africa will include economic and social, political and development issues. Preparatory meetings at official level are ongoing and I continue to follow developments closely. The summit is a historic and constructive step in the development of the EU's future relations with Africa. I believe that it will provide an excellent opportunity to further enhance the close links that already exist between us and develop our partnership for the future in a positive way.