Lisbon, 06/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Portuguese EU Council Presidency will be working in favour of an open agenda for the Intergovernmental Conference, an agenda that does not postpone enlargement prospects and which will, in particular, seek to ensure that enhanced cooperation may in future become more operational in an enlarged Union. This was confirmed on Thursday by the Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Francisco Seixas da Costa, when he received, in Lisbon, a small group of European journalists. "We do not consider that an IGC confined to Amsterdam leftovers is desirable", he said, stressing that Portugal hoped to seize this opportunity to treat "different elements of an institutional nature" which would be "useful for consolidating integration" in the prospect of an enlarged Union. The Portuguese Presidency will now begin by carrying out "tests" in order to verify whether the "Member States want to go further" (Ed.: than the three leftovers). In addition to this question of substance ("how far do we want to go with reform?") there is another which is no less politically important regarding applicant countries: can more ambitious reform be finalised by the deadline set for end 2000? "If the Member States are willing to run the risk of telling applicant countries that it is necessary to wait a little, we have no problem", explained Mr Seixas da Costa, who specified that Portugal considers, for its part, that "broad discussion on the recasting of the institutional architecture" is necessary. Nonetheless, the fact of choosing "more ambitious reform could be seen" by applicant states as proof of the Fifteen's determination to "slow down the enlargement process", which could increase the distrust already perceptible in some of these countries.
As far as methodology is concerned, the first task taken on by the Portuguese Presidency is therefore that of clarifying the Member States' objectives for reform. After this first phase of the IGC, it plans to submit to the June European Council a document which, drawn up under its own responsibility, describes the majority and minority options that are shaping up, so that the French Presidency may orient the debate on sound bases and conclude it during the December summit. In order to draw up this document, the Portuguese Presidency established a "methodological scenario" which, based on a "sort of questionnaire" (a "check list"), should serve as a base for bilateral contacts that Mr Seixas da Costa will form with the Member States and the Institutions in the context of the framework of an "preliminary examination", comprises five "boxes":
Composition of the Commission. "It is hard to imagine at the present stage of things, that there can be a Commission without a Commissioner for each Member State", said the Portuguese Secretary of State.
Weighting of votes. Mr Seixas da Costa pointed out that he would be exploring the way to "differentiate approaches according to the areas covered" (he said, for example, that one could conceive different mechanisms being applied according to whether decisions to be taken are in the economic and social field or in the justice and home affairs field) and to verify whether the Member States are ready to move along this road.
Qualified majority. In the eyes of the Portuguese Secretary of State, the problems to be resolved lie in the fact that the "theoretical model does not work", any availability to extend the field of application of qualified majority being immediately accompanied by "requests for exception".
Follow-up to the European Council of Cologne, namely questions related to the three leftovers, such as enhanced cooperation and flexibility. "It is necessary to make flexibility more flexible" compared to what was set out in the Amsterdam Treaty, said the President in office of the Council. In his view, "flexibility should intervene in all issues subject to unanimity" (which, in his view, will make it possible to create a "new acquis communautaire") and requires the creation of a legal structure "which is appropriate for those who wish to go further, while leaving the door open" to those who, initially, prefer to remain in the background. "This is perhaps the only model that will allow the Union to survive", he said, explaining: "In Amsterdam, we worked on the basis of a model conceived clearly for the Fifteen. Now, the question must be reassessed in the light of forthcoming enlargement". The essential challenge to be raised is, he says, that of avoiding affecting the single market at all costs and of "maintaining the single institutional framework". In this respect, it is imperative, he believes, for the Commission to play a "central role" and for it to be alone in having the right of own initiative. It is also appropriate to define a "very clear model" concerning the modalities that the Member States which do not take part in enhanced cooperation should respect for membership, and the Commission should also, at this level, have determining prerogatives. Finally, said Mr Seixas da Costa, the IGC should also work on the minimum
number of Member States required for enhanced cooperation, Amsterdam having conceived, at this level, a "model clearly for the Fifteen".
Member State expectations and wishes. Mr Seixas da Costa integrates into this "box" the idea of the Dehaene Group relayed for the past year by the Commission to divide the Treaty into two parts (even though it comes from an "Institution which does not have the right of own initiative concerning IGC"), and with Portugal seeing, for its part, "no problem in rebalancing the Treaty and making it more readable".
The Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs finally pointed out that the Presidency might suggest, in its document addressed to the June summit, possible adjustments to the Treaty under security and defence, in the light of progress accomplished in setting this dimension in place.