Nice, 08/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin specified on Friday evening before the press the way in which the works of the European Council in Nice would unfold, after having signalled that, during lunch, the Heads of State and Government had "examined a point, which must be firmed up", over the issue of enhanced cooperation in terms of foreign and defence policy.
Following a proposal made by the French Presidency during this lunch, it received in succession in the afternoon and evening of Thursday the Heads of State and Government accompanied by one or two collaborators ("in principal one", said Mr Jospin to the press), according the order of the future Presidencies of the Council (starting with Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Denmark and Greece, the order of the Presidencies as of the second quarter 2003 is still to be established: Ed.). During this "confessional" with the various Member States, "each will be heard on the points that are dear to it, and tested over what seems to it to be a possible move forward", noted Mr Jospin, adding: after having seen their reaction, "we will make a summary with the Commission" and we will work through the evening "on a list of compromises to be proposed early tomorrow", in the hope of finishing, during the day (Saturday; but the Presidency is obviously considering extending the works until Sunday morning or even Sunday evening if necessary: Ed.).
When questioned by the press on the unfolding of the dinner on Thursday evening between Heads of State and Government devoted to the work of the summit on institutional reform, Lionel Jospin felt it had been very "useful". "Everyone expressed their views, and dialogue was intense and sincere, marked by a determination to come to a successful conclusion", he said. "Everyone was aware of the need to reach an agreement acceptable to all" and likely to allow the EU to function properly, said President Jacques Chirac for his part, who stressed that "on each of the three main points each nation, without exception, must agree to make a gesture towards a compromise". According to Commission President Romano Prodi, the climate was "very positive" and "extremely open". Other sources spoke of a debate with some "historic" moments, not only on the aims but also the origins of European integration, while others spoke of a "dialogue of the deaf". After the stormy dinner at the Biarritz Summit, did the Heads of State and Government come to an agreement to show the outside world an image that was constructive? On some questions, the atmosphere was certainly calmer than in Biarritz (mainly on the composition of the Commission now that it is an acquired fact that there will be one Commissioner for each Member State, at least for a certain time). On others, the discussions confirmed well-known stances (it should be noted that only France was opposed to Germany's "unpegging" compared to the other "large" Member States in terms of votes in Council, even though all hastened to say that this is not a Franco-German problem). On the extension of qualified majority voting, President Chirac said everyone would have to move by 25%, but, for some Member States, this would not be enough. Jacques Chirac would hardly have appreciated the appeals supported by President Prodi on the responsibility of the French Presidency, solicited to give the example and to accept qualified majority voting in all trade policy aspects.