Memorandum submitted by the Secretary
of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
PROSPECTS FOR THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, BRUSSELS,
15-16 JUNE 2006
INTRODUCTION
1. We expect the June European Council to
focus on the Constitutional Treaty, enlargement and Hampton Court
follow-up, including energy and climate change.
CONSTITUTIONAL TREATY
2. 15 Member States have now approved the
Constitutional Treaty. However it is not currently on track to
enter into force because of the French and Dutch no votes last
summer. This, and the diversity of opinion expressed in the "national
debates" on the Future of Europe, mean that we expect the
European Council to take stock of and extend the period of reflection.
3. We also expect the European Council to
discuss the question of a target date for taking decisions on
institutional reform. 2009 has been floated by the Austrian Presidency
following the Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Klosterneuburg
last month.
4. Separately the Commission's "Citizens'
Agenda" paper also proposes launching a "process leading
to an institutional settlement". This would include a political
declaration, probably to coincide with the anniversary of the
Treaty of Rome in spring 2007, on Europe's "values and ambitions".
ENLARGEMENT
5. In December 2005 the Council agreed to
hold a fundamental debate this year on the future of enlargement.
The June European Council will discuss aspects of enlargement,
but we expect the full debate will come later, after the Commission
has submitted its report on enlargement this autumn.
6. We want to ensure the EU sticks to its
existing commitments on enlargement and to ensure that any changes
to the EU's policy do not rule out the possibility of future enlargements.
Equally we want to make sure that the accession negotiation process
is implemented rigorously and that all candidates meet the EU's
standards.
7. The European Council was also due to
take a decision on whether Bulgaria and Romania should accede
to the Union in 2007, as scheduled, or whether to delay accession
until 2008. The Commission has now recommended deferring the decision
until October, given their concerns about the readiness of both
countries. The European Council is therefore likely simply to
endorse the 16 May Commission report, welcoming progress to date,
but urging more before October.
HAMPTON COURT
8. We want the European Council to agree
good, forward-looking Conclusions which maintain the momentum
and profile of the outcome of the Informal Meeting of the European
Council at Hampton Court on 27 October 2005. This covers work
on research, universities, demographics, energy policy, Justice
and Home Affairs and CFSP/ESDP. It is an agenda which focuses
on the concrete issues that matter to people throughout the European
Union.
ENERGY
9. The European Council will discuss the
external aspects of EU energy policy, as agreed by the Spring
European Council. The basis for the discussion will be a short
joint Commission/Solana paper. Our aim for this Council is to
maintain the momentum on this work, giving a clear mandate to
the next (Finnish) Presidency to develop this work with the Commission.
In addition, we want to ensure that external aspects of energy
policy will be reflected fully in the Commission's Strategic Energy
Review which is due for Spring 2007.
CLIMATE CHANGE
10. We are working to secure Conclusions
which call for a global consensus on the scale of action needed
to avoid dangerous climate change, including a long term stabilisation
goal , as well as a truly global debate on climate change, involving
all stakeholders. We also feel the European Council should reiterate
the EU's commitment to an effective Emissions Trading Scheme,
and the importance of establishing long-term certainty for it.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
11. The European Council should adopt the
EU's revised Sustainable Development Strategy. The Strategy outlines
objectives under seven key challenges including climate change
and clean energy. Our aim is to see a single, coherent and accessible
Strategy that effectively communicates the Community's internal
and external sustainable development objectives.
JUSTICE AND
HOME AFFAIRS
12. The European Commission's "Citizens'
Agenda" paper makes explicit reference to the possibility
of using the Qualified Majority Voting provisions of Article 42
of the Treaty on European Union (known as the "passerelle")
"to improve decision taking and accountability in areas such
as police and judicial cooperation and legal migration".
This would have the effect of moving some JHA matters from unanimity
to QMV, without treaty change. But the UK would preserve its "opt-in"
in this area. While we expect some initial discussion, no decisions
will be taken on the use of the passerelle at the June Council.
This issue will be discussed further during the Finnish Presidency.
WESTERN BALKANS
13. The European Council will also consider
the Western Balkans. We hope the final Conclusions will note the
continued need for Serbia to co-operate with ICTY, will acknowledge
Montenegro's recent declaration of independence (following its
referendum) and note the ongoing EU preparations for contributing
to the implementation of a status settlement in Kosovo.
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
14. We can expect Iran to be the main topic.
The Council is also likely to consider other Middle East issues
and Africa.
CRISIS RESPONSE
15. The Presidency is expected to present
a paper on Crisis Response, drawing in part from a paper by former
European Commissioner Michel Barnier "Pour une force europeene
de protection civile: europe aid".
COHERENCE OF
EXTERNAL POLICY
16. The Council will discuss a paper from
Commission President Barroso on greater coherence of the EU's
external policies. We expect this will contain proposals to improve
internal Commission coordination, to develop co-operation between
Member States, the Commission, the High Representative and the
Council, and to enhance the visibility and accountability of the
EU's external actions.
TRANSPARENCY
17. Presidency proposals for greater transparency
of co-decision debates will also be on the Council agenda.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
7 June 2006
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