Brussels, 05/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on institutional reform has taken up so much space in the preparatory works for the European Council in Nice, and has been so heavily at the centre of the declarations and stances, that the other issues included in the programme have passed by nearly unnoticed. Though these are significant issues, and the importance that the Presidency attributes to them is clearly reflected in the work programme as it had been submitted on Monday to the General Affairs Council and as it was announced by President Chirac to the Heads of Government in the traditional letter preceding each summit.
The works will start on Thursday afternoon with the proclamation of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, then Thursday afternoon and Friday morning will be dedicated to themes other than institutional reform. This will occupy the last part of Friday, Saturday and if necessary a part of Sunday. Below is the programme:
- Thursday afternoon, signing of Charter, enlargement negotiations and economic and social themes, social agenda, fight against social exclusion, economic and financial coordination, fiscal package, researcher and student mobility. In some case the Summit will take stock of the Council's works, but in other cases true debates will take place.
- Thursday evening, the Heads of Government will broach amongst themselves, in a closed dinner, institutional reform notably to organise the works of the following days, and at the same time the Ministers for Foreign Affairs will look at the themes of CFSP (notably the Middle East).
- Friday morning, will be discussed the themes of the "Europe of citizens": maritime safety, food safety, general interest services, sport and the environment. The lunch will be reserved to issues of common security and defence policy and current international themes. After which, Friday afternoon, the summit will look at the "Presidency's conclusions" on the themes already discussed;
- As of Friday, early evening, the Heads of Government will deal with institutional reform, which could take the whole of Saturday as well as, if necessary, part of Sunday.