Brussels, 14/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner Michel Barnier, who is taking part at the Intergovernmental Conference on institutional reform both within the Preparatory Group chaired by Francisco Seixas da Costa and alongside President Prodi, at the ministerial sessions of the IGC and during European Councils, reaffirmed before the press prior to the official opening of the Conference (see other article) that the eleven months foreseen for this negotiation are "necessary" but also "sufficient" to achieve the ambitious reform needed if the next Union enlargement is to be successful. "Personally", he said in answer to a question, he felt the timetable is of less importance than the substance. He went on to add, however: "I would say, almost by provocation, that it would take three days for the European Council well-prepared over one or two months" as the matters to be settled are sensitive political issues (there are practically twenty articles in which several words must be changed, he remarked), and the only "truly technical" subject is qualified majority. "I have confidence in the Community spirit that reigns at the European Council where, from time to time, in historic moments, the long-term vision wins", said Mr Barnier. The Commission will be taking part in the negotiation in a "lucid and volontarist" way and "we shall not be spectators", affirmed Mr Barnier, for whom the fact that the IGC is conducted by France and Portugal, a founder country and one of the "large" countries, and a "smaller country which entered the Union more recently, is a sort of "symbol" of balance between the countries of the Union: "this couple, this tandem, is a wager of success", he said.
In answer to questions on the situation in Austria, Mr Barnier said that dark ideas, black ideas, should be fought with ideas. He said he believed in the strength of democratic debate and hoped to speak with the Austrians. (the Commissioner announced, moreover, that he will soon be going to Burgenland). Regarding the possible repercussions of the "Austrian crisis" on the IGC, Mr Barner said he felt this crisis is perhaps of a kind that will demonstrate how urgent it is to have a political Europe. He recalled that the European Commission had already proposed that Article 13 of the Treaty ("anti-discrimination" article) should come under "qualified majority" whereas it is now governed by unanimity, and that it should attribute greater importance to the Charter of Fundamental Rights being elaborated (this Charter may "safeguard the base of citizens' rights"). Furthermore, he said specifying that, at this stage, he was speaking personally, one can reflect on strengthening, a complement of Article 7 (which provides for suspension of the right of vote of a Member State in the event of grave and prolonged violation of the obligations of the Treaty). "I am working with my team on what could be an additional paragraph in Article 7 allowing inclusion in the Treaty of a surveillance procedure", a sort of democratic warning system, he said. If we were to move forward with this idea, it would come this year, during the IGC which opens today, he specified.
Regarding the substance of negotiation, Mr Barnier spoke above all of what "is not" included in the opinion of the European Commission, namely the nature of the future Charter on Fundamental Rights, the developments of European security and defence policy, and also the "reorganisation of the treaties", an idea that "we have not forgotten and that I believe just, for the comprehension of citizens and in order to one day facilitate the development of the treaties, he stressed. On this, Mr Barnier announced that the feasibility study requested by the Commission from the European university institute in Florence on a division of the Treaty into two parts should be ready in May. He also pointed out that in several days, the Commission will complete its opinion on the EU's jurisdictional systems, with proposals made after examining the Rapport Due (see summary in EUROPE of 9 February, pages 5 and 6) and that it will also make extremely precise and detailed proposals concerning taxation ("it is not a question of subjecting the whole of taxation to qualified majority", he recalled) and social security. As for enhanced cooperations, he pointed out above all that he was studying with his colleague Chris Patten the areas of CFSP where these could be envisaged. In its opinion on the IGC, stressed Mr Barnier, the Commission also made proposals inspired by the desire to strengthen the Community spirit, such as that of electing, in future, a certain number of MEPs on European lists and of appointing members of the Economic and Social Committee in a "European framework".
Finally, Mr Barnier announced that, with his colleagues Ms Reding and Mr Verheugen, he will propose, on Tuesday, the launching of a public debate from March on between European citizens and their representatives and the different European Commissioners, on reform of the institutions and the future of Europe.