Trevor Sargent
Ceist:40 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the issues in common foreign and security policy to be addressed at the EU summit in Feira, Portugal in June 2000. [16909/00]
Written Answers. - EU Summit.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:62 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his Department's priority for the forthcoming EU Summit in Portugal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16851/00]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:68 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's main concerns at next month's EU Summit; and if the Government believes proposed changes to the EU treaties will require a constitutional referendum in this country. [12812/00]
Gay Mitchell
Ceist:74 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the key agenda items and Government priorities, for the Feira European Council meeting. [16906/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 62, 68 and 74 together.
Among the issues to be addressed at the European Council in Feira next week, the Government attaches particular importance to the intergovernmental conference. I have set out comprehensively earlier today the Government's approach to the discussion expected at Feira on the Intergovernmental Conference. The conference is scheduled to conclude at the Nice European Council in December. A decision on whether or not a referendum will be necessary can only be taken in the light of legal advice on the eventual outcome of the conference.
The issues in Common Foreign and Security Policy to be addressed at the European Council in Feira next week comprise European Security and Defence Policy, the proposed EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, South Eastern Europe, and the EU Common Strategy on the Mediterranean Region.
The European Council at Feira will consider a Presidency progress report on follow-up to the Helsinki European Council regarding European Security and Defence Policy. Deputies will be aware that European Security and Defence Policy is the subject of ongoing and active discussion within the EU. The basis of these discussions is the Treaty of Amsterdam and their focus is on Petersberg Tasks, not mutual defence commitments.
The Presidency report to Feira will cover the Petersberg Tasks and the civilian aspects of crisis management. Among the issues concerning the Petersberg tasks, the report will deal with the ongoing work of elaborating the voluntary capabilities target, known as the Headline Goal. In regard to the civilian aspects of crisis management, there will be a particular focus on the role of police in international peacekeeping missions. The report will also include an indication of whether Treaty amendment is judged necessary. As I mentioned, the basis of the EU's work in this area is the Treaty of Amsterdam and we see no case for Treaty amendment in this area.
We take the view that a substantive discussion of the proposed EU Charter of Fundamental Rights should take place at Feira. A politically-oriented discussion on key issues should assist the work of the convention. The clarification of a number of key issues, including the status of the charter, the place of economic and social rights, and the question of consistency with the European Convention on Human Rights, would help focus the debate in the convention. The Taoiseach's representative will continue to state our preference for the charter to take the form of a political declaration rather than a legally binding text.
The European Council will receive a report from Secretary General-High Representative Solana and Commissioner Patten on progress on the priority issues identified in relation to South Eastern Europe by the Lisbon European Council. The report will also suggest some avenues for further action over the next few weeks and months. The report will cover progress to date on the dialogue with civil society and support for the independent media in Serbia. In relation to Kosovo the report will cover the contribution of the EU to the creation of a positive environment for the municipal elections scheduled for October, support for UNMIK and reconstruction in the province. On Montenegro the report will make further proposals for aid to the reform government of President Djukanovic in Podgorica. The report will also cover EU support for the elections scheduled in the months ahead, progress to be expected in the Stabilisation and Association Agreements with FYROM and Croatia, and support for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report will also cover future EU support for the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.
The Vienna European Council, December 1998, decided on the preparation of common strategies on Russia, Ukraine, Western Balkans and the Mediterranean, taking into account the Barcelona Process and the Middle East Peace Process. Common strategies on Russia and Ukraine have already been adopted. The Portuguese Presidency wishes to have a common strategy on the Mediterranean adopted at Feira. We support the Presidency's aim.
While enlargement is not a major issue for Feira, the European Council will take stock of the positive developments in the accession process which have taken place since its comprehensive discussion and decisions at Helsinki.
The economic policy questions for Feira are Greek entry into EMU, the tax package and follow up to the Lisbon European Council, with particular reference to the Europe Action Plan and the Charter on Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs.
A formal decision on Greece's application for the adoption by Greece of the Single Currency on 1 January 2001 will be taken at Feira. Ireland is happy to support this decision. The enlargement of EMU from 11 to 12 member states is a significant development for all the member states and for the Union.
Under the heading of follow up to Lisbon, some attention will be given to the process of agreeing the broad economic policy guidelines. Lisbon envisaged that other Council formations would contribute to ECOFIN's preparation of the guidelines and that the European Council, which will in future devote a meeting every spring to economic and social questions, would take on a bigger co-ordinating and guiding role.