Brussels, 25/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in conclave in Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers took negotiations on institutional reform into a new phase. The French Presidency, which indeed intends concluding the work of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) in December in Nice, has already spoken of its intention of stepping-up the work. The conclave broached two important issues: enhanced cooperation, that must enable a group of countries to go further in integration on some subjects, and the internal organisation of the European Commission. On these two topics, "it is still difficult to draw conclusions. The Presidency, moreover, did not do so", a diplomat noted. The debate especially demonstrated that the positions of the Member States still broadly differed and that most of the work remains to be done.
Talks on enhanced cooperation demonstrated "large convergence on certain principles", said Mr. Vedrine. It is thus generally agreed that it has to be an instrument of integration, be transparent and open to all Member States (possibly providing for a "catch-up" mechanism for countries not taking part at the outset). And not put into question the "acquis communautaire". Some States fear that enhanced cooperation would be linked to the functioning of the internal market (free movement of persons, goods, services and capital) then to the integration of the European Union, by introducing elements of differentiation. The French Presidency has proposed setting out stricter conditions for implementing such cooperation in these sectors. At this stage, the question remains on the table, just as does whether in the field of the common foreign and security policy, enhanced cooperation would have to be limited to certain fields, such as armaments of he pooling of operational capabilities.
Several delegations stressed the fact that enhanced cooperation must not be a means to circumvent the EU Treaty. In particular, it must not lead to the taking of majority decisions in fields where the Treaty provides for unanimity, as if everyone joined the cooperation, that would lead to a de facto amendment to the Treaty without respecting normal procedures. Others placed emphasis on the need not to broaden the Community's competencies through this. "Here we see the limits of the exercise", said a diplomat, "as cooperation of the Schengen Convention type, that has allowed for cooperation in a field that was not part of the Treaty, could not take the form of enhanced cooperation and would have to take place outside the Treaty".
Some States, like the United Kingdom, the Scandinavian countries, Ireland and Spain, again emitted doubts as to the utility of enhanced cooperation. "Even those backing this mechanism still raise questions. The only countries really enthusiastic are France and Germany", declared the British Minister of State for European Affairs, Keith Vaz, adding: "we do not believe that there needs to be a league of champions in the Union and an inferior league". "Jacques Chirac and Joschka Fischer raised fears when speaking of an avant-garde", said for her part the Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
The debate on the Commission was much more limited. It nevertheless demonstrated that a majority of delegations were in favour of maintaining one Commissioner per Member State and rejected the idea of a "hierarchisation" of Commissioners, as proposed by the French Presidency to guarantee the effectiveness of the Commission's work. "Everyone must be equal", said Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner. Although they acknowledged the importance of giving the president a major role, a great many number of countries (notably the small ones) placed emphasis on the Collegiality of the Commission and equal votes between Commissioners. The only ones really in favour of strictly limiting the number of Commissioners are France, Germany and Italy.
Negotiations will resume in September.