Brussels, 24/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the General Affairs Council took note f the Presidency's intentions regarding the practical organisation and methods for the work on the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama confirmed that he would invite the Council (as long as the EP has issued its opinion, that of the Commission being expected for Wednesday), at its 14 February session, to issue a favourable opinion for the convening of the IGC, which would enable the first ministerial session of the Conference to be convened for that very day. Meanwhile, M. Gama set out the provisional timetable or the work:
- Meetings at ministerial level: - 14 February; - 20 March; - 10 April; - 5 May (on the fringe of the "Gymnich"-type meeting ); - 22 May; - 13 June.
- Meeting of the Preparatory Group: - 15 and 25 February; - 7 and 28 March; - April as well as 14/15 April (informal meeting in Portugal); - 2, 16 and 30 May; 6 June.
EUROPE, moreover may stipulate that:
- The political responsibility for the IGC is that of ministers sitting in the General Affairs Council, each delegation comprising three members, plus a "note taker";
- The ministerial meetings will be prepared by a group of representatives of the governments of Member States (under the presidency, in the first half of the year, of the Portuguese Minister of State for European affairs, Seias da Costa). Each delegation will comprise, at most, of four members and, unless there is a contrary decision, meetings will be held at the Council Headquarters in Brussels;
- A representative of the Commission will take part in the work at ministerial and preparatory levels;
- Two EP observers will "attend" the meetings of the Preparatory Group and "may intervene to point out an EP point of view on all issues under debate". Each ministerial session will be "preceded by an exchange of views" with the EP President, assisted by the two Euro-MPs. Meetings at Heads of State or Government will be "preceded by an exchange of views" with Mrs. Fontaine;
- The Presidency shall present each meeting of the Preparatory Group with a "non paper" with as goal to analyse the topic under discussion, recall the main options and suggests paths to explore for the continuation of negotiations;
- Ministerial meetings must focus on fundamental issues highlighted in discussions among the Preparatory Group so as to decide, or provide precise guidelines for the continuation off the work;
- The Conference at Heads of State or Government level will be handed a comprehensive report, drawn up under the responsibility of the Presidency;
- Documents related to the IGC will be classified in three categories: a) official documents (presented by the parties to the Conference, by EU institutions and bodies or under the authority of the Presidency; b) documents to emerge from sessions of an informal or provisional nature presented by participants; c) documents from public and private bodies addressed to the Conference. Documents of the first and third categories will be rendered public;
- The Presidency shall ensure that candidate States are regularly informed, within the existing bodies, of developments in discussions and that they have the possibility of expressing their points of view on issues under debate. Information will also be supplied to member States of the European Economic Area not members of the EU.
In the framework of the follow-up to the Helsinki Council, the Council also raised the following issues on Monday: I) functioning of the Council. The Fifteen discussed ongoing reforms and those to come; - ii) European security and defence policy: see "open debate" on next pages; - iii) enlargement. The Presidency confirmed its intentions (see EUROPE of 22 January, p. 3). EUROPE has reason to believe that Turkey has been invited to take part in the enhanced political dialogue with the associate countries of Central Europe, Cyprus and Malta, which means that it will have to align itself with the instruments of the Cfsp, participate in meetings at different levels and cooperate in international bodies and with third countries; - iv) transparency and access to documents. The Council took note that the Commission would soon be presenting its proposals.
