In Thessaloniki, we decided that the Intergovernmental Conference would convene this October and complete its work as soon as possible and in any event before the European Parliament elections next June. The likelihood at this stage is that the Intergovernmental Conference will continue into our Presidency of the EU. We will be prepared for that. We agreed that the report of the Convention is a good basis to start the Intergovernmental Conference. At the meeting, I indicated that Ireland had some concerns that would be pursued in the Intergovernmental Conference. These concerns include unanimity in taxation, some issues in criminal law and in the security and defence areas. I was not alone in this and other members of the European Council also indicated the issues that they will pursue.
In Thessaloniki, I proposed that at the end of the Intergovernmental Conference the constitutional treaty could be signed in turn by each member state in a ceremony in its own country, starting with the member state holding the Presidency when negotiations are concluded and culminating in Rome. In summing up the debate, the President of the European Council indicated that this proposal was adopted by all. I am pleased that this proposal was welcomed so warmly because the constitutional treaty is designed to serve our citizens for a generation or more. It is appropriate that, after the Intergovernmental Conference, each member state brings the treaty home to its citizens for signature. Signature in each member state will allow everyone to claim ownership of the constitutional treaty. It is also appropriate that given the Italian Government's role as the depository of the treaties, the final ceremony will be held in Rome.
During the course of the European Council, we discussed a paper on security strategy prepared by Javier Solana, the European Union's High Representative. This is a very interesting report and it reflects our view that the Union pursue a holistic approach to security and that security has economic, political and development dimensions. The report sets out in an easily accessible way some of the global realities with which we in the European Union are faced. The European Union will soon have 25 states, 450 million people and a quarter of the world's GNP. We are, therefore, global players. As global players, we have the responsibility to address the global challenges that face us. These challenges come from a variety of sources and each must be addressed in a variety of ways.
For example, the European Union in Thessaloniki called for a substantial contribution to the financing of the global fund to fight HIV-Aids, TB and malaria. These scourges killed more than six million people last year, largely in low-income countries, mostly in Africa. This call for support for the global fund is in line with Irish policy and practice in this area. Low-income countries face particular economic, political and security challenges. The European Union and the member states are the biggest providers of official development assistance. We are playing, and will continue to play, a critical role through our development assistance, our trade and our missions in, for example, Congo.
As the report points out, the rule of law has to be expanded. The multilateral system, and the United Nations in particular, has to be strengthened. The fundamental framework for international relations is the United Nations Charter. Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism and organised cross-border crime require global frameworks and a mix of responses. The conclusions of the European Council underline that the European Union will support conflict prevention, promote justice and sustainable development, help secure peace and defend stability in our region and globally. This is an area to which the European Council will return in December. In the meantime, High Representative Solana has been asked to bring the work forward taking into account member states' interests and citizens' priorities. The aim is to foster debate.
The European Council also welcomed progress in the area of European Security and Defence Policy, including on capabilities and operations. An EU police mission has been in place in Bosnia-Herzegovina since January of this year, while military missions are under way in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. On this basis, and although somewhat limited and constrained by certain shortfalls, the European Council has determined that the Union has operational capability across the full range of Petersberg Tasks. In addition, we endorsed an annual report on the implementation of the EU programme for the prevention of violent conflicts, as well as a report on the contribution of EU Common Foreign and Security Policy to the fight against terrorism.
We also issued a declaration on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The basic principles have now been established and work continues on the development and implementation of an action plan. Ireland attaches great importance to disarmament and non-proliferation and I welcome this work. Key aspects on the strategy are a focus on the multilateral system and fostering the role of the Security Council and the mainstreaming of non-proliferation issues in EU contacts with third countries.
The European Council also had a session devoted to immigration and asylum issues. There were a number of ideas discussed. This is a complex area and there are no simple solutions. The European Union is growing and its borders are expanding. We need more co-operation and resources to ensure that the policies that we agree together work well.
Significant progress has been made in the area. Under the Greek Presidency, for example, we have agreed to develop a visa information system. However, we must reinforce our efforts and bring greater harmony to all our systems. We agreed that we had to reinforce our co-operation to ensure that immigrants are integrated into our societies. We also agreed that we should ensure that our asylum systems were not exploited and undermined for those who genuinely required asylum. We need greater co-operation with third countries, for example, to combat illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings.
Other issues we discussed and which are covered in our conclusions include enlargement, the follow-up to the spring European Council and a range of external relations issues. In particular, we discussed the situation in the Middle East. We underlined the historic opportunity provided by the acceptance of the quartet's road map by the Palestinian Authority and Israel and the outcome of the Aqaba summit, including the personal engagement of President Bush. We underlined the readiness of the EU to contribute to a lasting, just and peaceful settlement, including through setting up a credible and effective monitoring mechanism.
On Iraq, we had a constructive discussion. We welcomed the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483 and the engagement of the United Nations through the appointment of the special representative. We looked forward to the formation, as soon as possible, of a representative Iraqi Government. We noted that the United Nations has unique experience in post-conflict nation-building.
We also discussed developments in Iran and expressed concern about some elements in Iran's nuclear programme. We called on Iran to be fully co-operative with the International Atomic Energy Agency in all its nuclear activities. We urged it to sign, ratify and implement an additional protocol to its safeguards agreement as a confidence-building measure.
While in Thessaloniki, I had a meeting with President Papadopoulos of Cyprus. The President briefed me in detail on the current state of play in Cyprus. I indicated that my colleagues in the European Union and myself are united in our support for the continuation of the United Nations Secretary General's mission of good office and for negotiations on the basis of his proposals. In that context, I said to the President that Ireland looked forward to Cyprus becoming a member state during our Presidency on 1 May next year. I indicated that we continued to hope that a united island of Cyprus would accede to the European Union next May and that we would be ready to assist in whatever way we could.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs represented Ireland at the EU-western Balkans summit on 21 June. The summit brought together the political leaders of the European Union, the accession countries, the candidate countries and the five states of the western Balkans. It adopted a joint declaration confirming the central role of the EU in working with the countries of the region towards the ultimate objective of their integration into European structures. The countries of the western Balkans are potential candidates for membership of the European Union. The summit adopted an agenda for co-operation focused on the implementation of the political and economic reforms essential to consolidating and increasing the political stability of the past three years. That agenda will provide a framework for Ireland's Presidency, during which relations with the western Balkans will remain high on the agenda.
On the margins of the European Council meeting, I met the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair. The meeting with the Prime Minister followed the meeting between the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Murphy, in Dublin on Wednesday, 18 June. I will meet Gerry Adams later this week and also hope to have an early opportunity to meet David Trimble and Mark Durkan. We also need to revisit and resolve the two key outstanding issues that were not dealt with satisfactorily in March, namely, ending paramilitarism and ensuring the stability of the institutions. Obviously we want to intensify the contacts with a view to ensuring that there is the best possible environment in which elections can take place in the autumn. I think that everyone recognises the need for the maximum amount of calm and restraint during the marching season. A good number of people are trying to assure that, and I commend them for their efforts. A calm and restrained marching season will also help us go into the autumn on a positive note.
In my meeting with the Prime Minister, I emphasised, as I have been doing from the outset and as I did again in the Dáil last week, the absolute necessity for elections to take place in the autumn. Both Governments remain determined to move ahead with the implementation, in so far as we can, of our Joint Declaration. That declaration is our common agenda. Some aspects of the declaration remain dependent on acts of completion by others. However, we can, and must, push forward in areas such as policing, criminal justice, equality and rights issues.
The Minister, Deputy Cowen, and Secretary of State, Mr. Murphy, will meet again at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 2 July. That meeting will be dedicated to reviewing progress on the implementation of the Joint Declaration. I plan to meet Prime Minister Blair again in London on 2 July. I believe that we can regain momentum in our efforts. That will require the full engagement and commitment, not just of the two Governments, but of all the parties committed to the Agreement.
The Thessaloniki European Council was a very successful meeting. I thank the Greek Presidency for the organisation of the event. We are now little over six months away from Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. The issues with which we dealt in Thessaloniki are very likely to remain on the agenda of the European Union during our Presidency.
For the first six months of next year, we will work to ensure that enlargement will be a success, as the accession countries move from observers to full members of the Union. We will work to advance the agenda in the justice and home affairs area. If the Intergovernmental Conference continues into our Presidency, as seems likely, we will work to ensure a successful outcome. We will also carry forward the agenda in external relations, where the Presidency represents the Union on the world stage.
There will be many more tasks to be done and we will seek to carry them out efficiently and effectively.