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SELECT COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

 

MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

 

PROSPECTS FOR THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL,

BRUSSELS, 21-22 JUNE 2007

 

Introduction

1. We expect the June European Council to be dominated by discussion of institutional reform. Other issues will be secondary, but are likely to include JHA, climate change and the next stage of Single Market development.

 

Institutional Reform

 

2. At the European Council, EU leaders will try to agree a way forward on institutional reform. The Presidency will present a report to the Council assessing the state of discussions on the Constitutional Treaty and exploring possible future developments. We expect this report to be circulated in draft on Thursday 14 June, ahead of the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 17-18 June. We do not expect to see Council conclusions on institutional reform until after the GAERC and very close to the European Council.

 

3. We recognise that some institutional reform is required, but believe that,

as the Minister for Europe set out in his Written Ministerial Statement of 5 December 2006, the Government's overall approach to discussions on the future of Europe should be guided by the following principles - pursuing British interests, a modern and effective EU, consensus among 27 Member States, emphasis on subsidiarity, making the best use of existing Treaties, and openness to global change.

 

4. As the Prime Minister has said, the Government wants to agree an amending treaty to replace the Constitutional Treaty. Any new treaty would have to be negotiated by an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). The Presidency foresees an ambitious timetable, with EU institutional reforms agreed, ratified and implemented by mid- 2009. However, there is no consensus yet among Member States on the way forward.

 

5. It is important to recognise that the EU is not in crisis. In fact it is working well. Examples of recent successes include the Spring European Council and agreement on climate change; liberalisation of air travel; and EU action on mobile 'phone roaming charges, which is helping to drive down prices and deliver more choice for consumers.

 

6. Without an agreement or a new Treaty, the EU would still carry on under its current arrangements, and have the same functions as today. It would not collapse. But failure to reform at all would hinder the institutional effectiveness of the EU, post-enlargement. This is why the Government will argue at the June Council in favour of reform, but by means of an amending treaty.

 

Other Issues

 

7. We also expect the Conclusions to record achievements on issues such as climate change (at the Spring European Council) and strengthening police co-operation (the Prum Treaty); and briefly to endorse strengthening of the European Neighbourhood Policy, by referring to the 18-19 May GAERC conclusions and the Presidency's progress report on the issue.

 

8. There is likely to be positive language on the next stage of Single Market development and on liberalising postal services. The Conclusions will also record progress on the proposal for establishing a European Institute of Technology; in line with UK objectives, this proposal has evolved away from a physical institution, towards a network which aims to bring together business, researchers and academics in Knowledge and Innovation Communities.

 

9. The Presidency will look for endorsement of their Central Asia strategy, which we welcome. Other foreign policy issues may come up depending on events.