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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 6

Written Answers. - European Union Reform.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

73 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his policy priorities for the December 2000 summit in Nice, France; the outcome that he expects from that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27526/00]

My policy priorities for the European Council in Nice relate to four key issues – the Intergovernmental Conference, European security and defence policy, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and enlargement.

Concerning the Intergovernmental Con ference, I refer Deputies to the answer I gave to Priority Questions Nos. 54 and 55.
A further policy priority arising at the Nice European Council is the area of European Security and Defence Policy, on which Heads of State and Government will receive an overall report from the French Presidency. This report will cover military capabilities, including the results reached at the recent capabilities commitment conference, civilian crisis management, the establishment of the permanent political and military structures, the inclusion in the EU of certain Western European Union Petersberg Tasks functions and EU relations with third countries and with NATO. The European Council is expected to specify the agenda for continuing work under the Swedish Presidency.
The draft European Charter of Fundamental Rights, approved at the informal European Council in Biarritz, will be presented to the Nice European Council. The Council will propose to the European Parliament and the Commission that, together with the Council, they should solemnly proclaim a European Charter of Fundamental Rights. The status of the charter may be raised at Nice but substantive discussions on that issue are more likely to take place at a later date. It is the Government's view that the charter should take the form of a political declaration and that a legally binding text is not acceptable.
Ireland is eager to see a strong positive message coming from the Nice European Council on the subject of EU enlargement. This would respond to the very real reform programmes and other efforts being undertaken by applicant countries in preparation for EU membership. It will be important for the European Council to adopt decisive conclusions on the enlargement negotiation process along the lines of the recommendations in the recent Commission strategy paper. The strategy paper includes an indicative programme of work, which would see negotiations being concluded with the most advanced applicant countries at least by mid 2002. It also suggests methods for speeding up the negotiation process.
The Nice European Council will, furthermore, have the opportunity to confirm that the differentiation process agreed in Helsinki last year will continue to apply to the process of enlargement and it will be that, taken together with their state of preparedness, which will determine when the individual countries will join the EU.
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