I am pleased to appear again before this committee. I am delighted to be accompanied by my colleague in the Department, the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, who has special responsibility for overseas development and human rights. He will also be attending the Council, together with other development co-operation ministers to consider the development items on the agenda. He will address the committee this morning on those items.
As members are aware, the agenda for the Council will not be finalised until after today's meeting of COREPER. However, a number of additional items have been already added to the agenda. I understand copies of the latest draft agenda have been circulated to committee members.
On Monday, 18 November, the Council will examine general affairs items, particularly preparations for the Copenhagen European Council on 12 and 13 December, including enlargement and the Presidency function. It emerged at COREPER yesterday that the item concerning the progress of work on the convention may be dropped at the Council as Mr. Amato, one of the two vice-presidents of the convention, is unable to attend. The Commission may instead make an oral presentation on its own work programme for 2003.
At its session on Tuesday, 19 November the Council will focus on external relations items, including development issues. These include discussions on the situation in the Middle East, the western Balkans, North Korea and the European security and defence policy, ESDP, issues.
As time is limited and will not permit me to comment on each of the agenda items, I will confine my comments to the more salient issues, beginning with preparations for the Copenhagen European Council, specifically enlargement.
The positive outcome of the Nice referendum restored momentum to the enlargement process. The breakthrough agreement at last month's Brussels summit on the financial package maintained that momentum. The Government is confident that the completion of negotiations next month at the European Council in Copenhagen is now achievable.
At next Monday's meeting in Brussels, we will exchange views with our counterparts from the ten acceding countries. We want to explore with them how to resolve the issues that are outstanding in the negotiations. Although the margin for negotiation of the financial package is limited, the Government considers it important that the EU does not adopt a take-it-or-leave-it approach. There is room to consider reasonable requests from the acceding countries. EU Ministers will reflect at the General Affairs External Relations Council, GAERC, meeting, which will take place immediately afterwards, on how best to respond to what we have heard.
The Government does not have any special problems with the issues left in negotiations. We believe that following the referendum on Nice the Irish people have voted resoundingly for enlargement. The Government approach in the closing weeks of negotiations, and until the accession of the ten acceding states in early 2004, will be informed by that vote. While ensuring that Ireland's interests are protected, we will at the same time endeavour to see that Irish and EU assistance and advice is sustained until they accede during our Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers.
The GAERC is also due to hold discussions on the Presidency function. The Council will prepare debate at the European Council on further reform of the Presidency system. A number of practical changes were agreed at the Seville European Council in June and are now in place. These included measures aimed at strengthening continuity between Presidencies and at the better preparation of the European Council. They are working well. It was also agreed at Seville that there should be a further discussion at Copenhagen in December.
It is likely that there will be agreement on some further technical changes aimed at promoting co-operation between successive Presidencies. There is also a lively debate under way on more fundamental change, though this will ultimately be for the convention and the subsequent intergovernmental conference to decide on, along with other institutional questions. Ireland and many other member states believe the current rotation system has powerful advantages which should not be underestimated or lightly discarded. At the same time there are several others who believe there is a need for more profound reform. Different possible models exist, including the concept of team Presidencies. We are certainly open to discussion but we are insistent that the criteria of efficiency and equality between member states be met. It is likely that this and other basic institutional questions, such as the possible election of the Commission president, will not be resolved for some time.
The Government welcomed the unanimous adoption on 8 November of the UN Security Council Resolution 1441. Ireland supported this resolution because it offers the most likely means of achieving the three goals we set ourselves - to obtain Iraq's compliance with its disarmament obligations; to avoid a military conflict; and to preserve the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is also to be welcomed because the Security Council has been able to express in a unified fashion its concerns and intentions regarding Iraq. The resolution enhances the inspectors' ability to fulfil their mandate, both by strengthening their hand in valuable ways and by demonstrating the Security Council's determination to ensure Iraq will, on this occasion, meet its obligations.
In the past two months the Security Council has been engaged in a debate in which Ireland has played an active part. The Government took the view that military action against Iraq was not inevitable and that, on the contrary, war could be averted if the Security Council adopted a strong resolution which sends the arms inspectors back into Iraq with a reinforced mandate to complete their work. Resolution 1441 gives Iraq a final opportunity to comply with the disarmament obligations imposed on it by the Security Council. The purpose of the resolution is to achieve Iraqi disarmament without the use of force, which we would regard as a last resort.
The Government believes the integrity of the UN Charter and the prerogatives of the Security Council are fully preserved in the terms of this resolution. The resolution provides for a clear sequential process whereby the inspectors will report back to the Council on Iraq's compliance with its obligations under Security Council resolutions. This will then be assessed by the Security Council, which will decide whether a material breach of Iraq's obligations has occurred and what ensuing action is appropriate. The final text contrasts sharply with the original draft which provided that any failure by Iraq to comply would automatically authorise member states to use force.
Iraq has been offered a rigorous and fair way forward towards meeting its disarmament obligations. However, there can be no doubt that Iraq must now co-operate fully with arms inspectors and reassure the world, finally, that it has divested itself of weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.
It is, accordingly, to be welcomed that Iraq, on Wednesday, indicated to the Secretary General that it is prepared to accept the resolution and welcome the inspectors. It might be argued that the rhetoric in the letter gives grounds for concern but we believe words are less important than actions and that Iraq must be judged on its compliance and not on its rhetoric.
The other major cause for concern in the Middle East is the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Violent incidents continue to claim lives on both sides and there seems to be an almost complete lack of trust between the parties. It is essential that the two sides realise that dialogue and negotiation are the only way forward and that this is not a conflict which will be resolved through either brutal occupation or terrorism.
International efforts to assist the peace process are continuing. The envoys of the Quartet are working on a road map for a Palestinian state based on ideas put forward by the European Union and the US. It is hoped this road map will be ready for adoption by Ministers of the Quartet at a meeting in Copenhagen in December. The intention is to see a Palestinian state emerge over three years and to have a final settlement which will have two states living in peace side by side with internationally recognised borders. Of course, any road map or plan is only as strong as the will to see it implemented and I call on both parties to take a positive approach to the road map and the efforts of the Quartet. At this stage it is not expected that the Council on Monday will adopt conclusions on the Middle East.
Under the ESDP heading the Council will review the ongoing progress towards the development of both military and non-military crisis management capabilities by the European Union. From our perspective this work is going well but all member states agree on the importance of maintaining progress throughout the period ahead.
European Union Defence Ministers, including the Minister for Defence, Deputy Michael Smith, will meet with the framework of the GAERC to examine military aspects. A particular focus of their meeting will be on the capabilities for enabling the EU to carry out humanitarian and crisis management tasks.
Foreign Ministers will examine the civilian side and review progress in the four civilian priority areas of policing, rule of law, civil administration and civil protection. Council conclusions will be adopted subsequently during a joint ministerial session.
ESDP is now entering an operational phase. By agreement, an EU police mission will take over the existing UN operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina from January onwards, while there is also the prospect of the EU taking over a military monitoring mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia later this year. The reality of these modest scale operations may remove at least some of the unfounded myths regarding the ESDP.
The Council also expects to receive an update from Secretary General-High Representative Solana on EU-NATO relations and in particular on arrangements providing for EU access to certain NATO crisis management infrastructural support, the so-called Berlin Plus issue. Following agreement on the EU side at the recent Brussels European Council, Secretary General-High Representative Solana was mandated to work towards an overall EU-NATO agreement.
I am satisfied this issue is continuing to progress in a manner which is fully consistent with the relevant principles established at the Feira European Council in Portugal, namely, full respect for the autonomy of EU decision-making; recognition of the different nature of the EU and NATO; and non-discrimination against any of the member states.
Ireland's participation in any EU-led military operation would be on a case by case basis in accordance with the so-called "triple lock" requirements, as confirmed in the national declaration at the Seville European Council. That is, participation is subject to UN authorisation, Government decision and Dáil approval.
Regarding Cyprus, I welcome the proposal made on Monday by Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, for a comprehensive settlement on Cyprus and I hope it will be carefully considered by the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots and by Greece and Turkey. The UN has done outstanding work over the years in attempting to resolve the conflict in Cyprus and I thank the Secretary General for his contribution to the process as well as that of his special adviser, Mr. Alvaro De Soto. The proposal the UN has offered to the two sides probably represents the best basis for progress. A solution based on this proposal is achievable. It is up to both sides to grasp the opportunity which has been offered to them.
Members will understand that I am reluctant to comment in any detail on the proposal at this stage because the Secretary General has asked that members of the Security Council exercise discretion on the matter, and it is important that the international community gives the two Cypriot leaders the space they need to consider the proposal. The Secretary General's document represents a tremendous opportunity for both parties to reach agreement prior to the Copenhagen European Council on 12 and 13 December. Agreement will involve painful compromise by both sides, but the prize is great and, with political will and creativity, it is achievable. The Secretary General has asked the parties to respond to his proposal by next Monday.
There have also been important developments in Turkey since I last addressed the committee. A general election took place on 3 November which resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Justice and Development Party led by Mr. Tayyip Erdogan. Only one other party, the CHP, led by Deniz Baykal, crossed the 10% election threshold.
It is expected to take a few weeks to form a government in Ankara. However, Mr. Erdogan will undertake a tour of EU capitals over the next few weeks, and the Taoiseach will meet him for discussions on Thursday, 21 November. The meeting will offer us an opportunity to get to know him. It is clear that Mr. Erdogan wishes to integrate Turkey further into the world system and that he will pursue with vigour Turkish membership of the EU.
It is understood that the United Kingdom is also keen to stress the progress made in conflict areas such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Angola and would like to have a discussion at the informal lunch on how all can respond to consolidate peace in those countries. The European Commission has also stressed the importance of addressing problems in the Horn of Africa where the humanitarian situation must be seen in parallel with that in southern Africa. The Commission sees crisis prevention as the key way forward.
The Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, will deal with development co-operation issues.