Luxembourg, 13/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - The ministerial session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on institutional reform took place on Monday at the end of the day in the presence of very few ministers. Discussions, though not in detail, mainly covered points that could be added to the IGC's agenda. A majority trend was reached in favour of a limited session, so that the IGC could effectively be concluded before the end of the year. While acknowledging that themes such as defence, the simplification of Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights were important, a majority of delegations felt "overloading the boat" would amount to endangering the next wave of enlargements, which is something to be avoided. On the other hand, a trend in favour of including the theme of enhanced cooperation was observed. One can even speak of consensus between the Fifteen, at any rate for discussing this theme in the context of IGC. The Portuguese Presidency pointed out that the IGC and, in particular, the theme of increased cooperation should be the only point of discussion at the European Council luncheon on Monday 19 June in Feira.
EUROPE recalls that Portuguese Secretary of State Francisco Seixas da Costa will finalise the report by the Presidency to the summit in the light of remarks exchanged during the last ministerial session of the IGC. He will present the report to the Member States on Wednesday and to the press on Thursday.
During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Jaime Gama officially confirmed that the Presidency would propose, in its report, enlarging the IGC agenda to increased cooperation. "Some Member States have doubts" about this, he acknowledged, but all agree it is useful to ensure that the current "informal debate" is transformed into an "official debate within the IGC". This will be the addition proposed by the Presidency because the Presidency is made up of "reasonable people".