I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 46, inclusive, together.
As part of our current Presidency of the European Union, I chaired the European Council meeting held in Brussels on 25 and 26 March. The Council conclusions and the declaration on combating terrorism adopted at the meeting have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. As Deputies are aware, on Tuesday, 30 March, the earliest opportunity following the European Council, I made a comprehensive statement in the House on the outcome of the Council. I also answered questions on the Council following the statements. I do not, therefore, propose to go into too much detail again.
Briefly, the spring European Council was a successful one for the European Union and significant progress was achieved. We adopted a declaration on combating terrorism; agreed to resume our negotiations in the Intergovernmental Conference and reach agreement no later than our next meeting in June; identified what needs to be done to promote sustainable growth and more jobs; and discussed a range of foreign policy issues and adopted conclusions, including on the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans and Russia. While I had no bilateral meetings on the margins of the European Council, I did have a joint meeting with the President of the Commission and the President of the Parliament before the Council.
On Wednesday, 31 March, I presented my report on the outcome of the spring European Council to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. I received positive feedback from MEPs on the progress achieved so far by Ireland's Presidency.
Once again I condemn in the strongest possible terms the appalling atrocity that took place in Madrid on 11 March in which nearly 200 people lost their lives and many hundreds were injured. I was struck by the wonderful sense of solidarity displayed by people throughout the European Union who participated in the three minutes' silence on 15 March which had been requested by the Irish Presidency in commemoration of those who died or were injured.
On Wednesday, 24 March, I attended a ceremonial Mass for the victims of the bombings in Madrid. It was a moving event which allowed us to pray for and pay our respects to the victims and show our solidarity with the Spanish people at this difficult time.
The challenge for us as holders of the Presidency has been to respond to these terrible events in an appropriate way. An emergency meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers took place on 19 March and, as holders of the Presidency, we dedicated the first session of the spring European Council on 25 March to a discussion on the European Union's response to the terrorist attacks in Madrid. As I have mentioned, the European Council adopted a declaration on combating terrorism and a related declaration on solidarity against terrorism, which comprise a range of practical measures aimed at greatly enhancing our ability to better protect our citizens.
We also appointed the former Dutch interior Minister, Mr. Gjis de Vries, as the EU's first counter-terrorism co-ordinator. I have undertaken an intensive round of consultations with my counterparts on the Intergovernmental Conference over the past three months. Since I last reported to the House, I have met a number of EU leaders in Dublin, including Prime Minister Barroso of Portugal on 4 February, Chancellor Schröder on 9 February following his meeting with President Chirac in Berlin earlier that day, Prime Minister Parts of Estonia on 16 February, Prime Minister Vanhanen of Finland on 23 February, Prime Minister Juncker of Luxembourg on 2 March, Prime Minister Spidla of the Czech Republic on 3 March, Prime Minister Rasmussen of Denmark on 10 March, Prime Minister Blair on 11 March and Prime Minister Dzurinda of the Slovak Republic on 12 March.
On 12 February, I travelled to Rome for a meeting with Prime Minister Berlusconi. We reviewed the substantial progress made on the IGC under his chairmanship. I underlined our determination to build on this progress during the Irish Presidency. The Prime Minister set out Italy's views in a clear and positive way and I welcomed his insights. We also reviewed a range of issues on the EU agenda, including the Lisbon agenda, the Commission's proposals on the financial perspectives and a range of foreign policy issues of mutual interest.
I met the former chairman of the European Convention, Mr. Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, during his visit to Dublin on 11 March last. We had a useful meeting and I was interested to hear his perspective on the key issues outstanding in the IGC.
On Monday, 22 March, I travelled to Paris for discussions with President Chirac. This meeting was a key element of the consultation process I have been undertaking. I briefed the President on my extensive contacts since the beginning of the year and he provided me with an important insight into the latest French thinking on the IGC. I was encouraged by his wholehearted support for our efforts and his determination to see the IGC concluded by the June European Council on 17 and 18 June.
All these discussions, in both person and by telephone, were both useful and informative in terms of developing a better understanding of the concerns which remain and of assessing the possibilities for progress. The clear message which has come through is one of commitment to moving forward with a view to finding a reasonable solution.
I made a report to the European Council in Brussels on Thursday, 25 March. My report contained a summary account of the work done to date based on the extensive consultations that have taken place both at political and official level. It also outlined our overall assessment of the state of play, as well as our understanding of where scope for compromise and agreement might lie. Over dinner, we discussed how best to take matters forward over the coming months and, as I have mentioned, we agreed on the objective of concluding the IGC at the European Council in mid-June.
There is consensus that the new constitution will be good for Europe. It will contribute to greater understanding of what the Union is, what it does and why. With ten new countries joining on 1 May, it contains provisions necessary to enable the Union to develop and grow further in this new context. As I made clear to my European Council colleagues, I believe that early agreement is possible if we have the collective imagination to keep the wider picture in mind. The universal message I have received from partners is that delay will not make matters any easier. It is in all our interests to reach agreement on the constitutional project as soon as possible, particularly in view of the difficult discussions on other issues, such as the future financing of the Union, which lie ahead.
On 22 January, I met a UNICE group led by its president, Dr. Strübe. The group presented me with a short paper which outlined UNICE's main areas of interest in regard to the Irish Presidency of the European Union and, in particular, for the spring European Council. The discussions focused mainly on European competitiveness and employment issues. In addition, we discussed the forthcoming enlargement of the Union and institutional issues. I had a further meeting with UNICE prior to the European Council on 25 March. I also had a meeting with a delegation from the European Trade Union Confederation on 13 January. Meetings of this kind with social partners are critical to boosting the role that social dialogue can play in progressing, and ultimately achieving, the overall Lisbon goal.
The French Foreign Minister, Mr. Dominique de Villepin, paid a courtesy call on me in Government Buildings on 30 January. We discussed a range of issues, including the Intergovernmental Conference and the Lisbon agenda.
I met the United Nations Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Mr. Alvaro de Soto in Dublin on 16 February last. I congratulated Mr. de Soto on the excellent work carried out by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and his team in New York the previous week which resulted in the announcement on 13 February that the Greek and Turkish Cypriots had committed to negotiating in good faith to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem before 1 May 2004. I assured Mr. de Soto that the EU would continue to support strongly the central role of the UN Secretary General.
I had a further opportunity to meet Mr. de Soto in Government Buildings yesterday. He briefed me on the outcome of the recently concluded UN-led negotiations. I acknowledged the long-standing effort of the UN Secretary General to create a unique and historic opportunity for a settlement to the Cyprus problem. The decision on the plan for a settlement as presented to the parties by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on 31 March now rests ultimately with the people of Cyprus who will vote in separate simultaneous referenda on 24 April.
I addressed the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos on 24 January in my capacity as President of the European Council. In my speech, I outlined the priorities which the Irish Presidency is addressing in the context of the Lisbon agenda, as well as my determination to step up its implementation. The full text of my speech can be viewed on the Irish Presidency website. My attendance at the forum afforded an ideal opportunity to inform an international audience of business leaders about the Presidency's ongoing agenda in regard to the ongoing economic, social and environmental programme that is the Lisbon agenda.
On 2 February, I addressed a conference on sustainable development co-hosted by the European Environment Bureau, the European Trade Union Conference and the Social Platform, and co-sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I outlined to the conference the Presidency's approach to sustainable growth as part of the Lisbon agenda.
On 18 February, Prime Minister Blair, Chancellor Schröder and President Chirac wrote jointly to me and President Prodi outlining the issues discussed at their trilateral meeting that day. The letter contained a number of proposals and suggestions on how best the European Council might pursue the Lisbon agenda in the areas of innovation, employment and social cohesion. Many of the issues and suggestions referred to are ones that the Irish Presidency had been progressing in the context of the spring European Council. The proposal by the three leaders for the appointment of a vice-president of the Commission recognises the need for a co-ordinated and integrated response to the competitiveness challenges facing the European Union at all levels.
The Irish Presidency has consistently underlined the importance of coherence in addressing the many reforms and targets which make up the Lisbon agenda and the need for a well co-ordinated approach. This need was reflected in the Irish Presidency's approach to last month's spring European Council, which called on the incoming Commission President to consider how to ensure the competitiveness agenda is effectively supported. Of course, it would be a matter for the incoming President to consider the precise mandate and functions of the College of Commissioners.
On 16 February, I received a joint contribution to the spring European Council from the Prime Ministers of Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Poland and Estonia. This contribution affirmed the support of the six leaders for the approach being taken. It also outlined their thoughts on specific areas, including innovation, research and development, competitiveness and macroeconomic stability.
I spoke to the new Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Costas Karamanlis, by telephone on 22 March. I congratulated him on his election success and briefed him on the Irish Presidency's approach to the spring European Council and on my consultations on the IGC.
I spoke to José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spain's incoming Prime Minister, by telephone on 16 March. I offered my sympathies on the recent tragic events in Madrid and I briefed him on the Irish Presidency's response.