Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 June 2013
83. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcomes of the General Affairs Council meeting that took place in Luxembourg on 25 June 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31314/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 25 June 2013, I chaired the final General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting of the Irish Presidency. The main items on the agenda were the enlargement and stabilisation process; a proposal by some Member States for an initiative on democracy, fundamental values and rule of law; preparation of the European Council of 27/28 June 2013; and the Multiannual Financial Framework. Ministers discussed the next steps for Serbia and Kosovo in the enlargement and stabilisation and association process. The GAC recommended that, following completion of national parliamentary procedures and subject to the endorsement of the June European Council, accession negotiations be opened with Serbia. The Council also agreed in principle on draft Council decisions authorising the opening of negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Kosovo. The Council also agreed to open chapter 22 (on regional policy) with Turkey. Ministers held a further discussion on the proposal by the Foreign Ministers of four Member States (Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and Finland) for a new and more effective mechanism to safeguard fundamental values in EU Member States. The GAC will return to this issue after the summer, during the course of the Lithuanian Presidency.
Preparations for the European Council meeting of 27/28 June were also discussed at the GAC. Ministers considered the draft European Council conclusions. President Van Rompuy has stated that he intends to make youth unemployment and financing of the economy the focus of the June European Council. Leaders will also conclude the European Semester 2013 by endorsing country specific recommendations for the forthcoming national budget cycles across the Union; review the Compact for Growth and Jobs, one year on from its adoption; be briefed by President Van Rompuy on the outcome of his consultations on the questions on EMU set by the December 2012 European Council; consider enlargement in light of the debate at the GAC; and note Latvia’s application to adopt the Euro as its currency.
Finally, I briefed the GAC in detail on the state of play in the discussions between the Irish Presidency and representatives of the European Parliament and of the Commission on the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020.
I expect to provide an overview of the outcome of the June General Affairs Council to the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs in a statement in July.
