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.
June 2007
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