Brussels, 18/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - In presenting the six priorities of the Spanish Presidency (see EUROPE 18 December page 9), the next President of the Council, Josep Piqué hammered home the necessity of making the Spring Summit in Barcelona on 15-16 March a success and strengthening the dynamic initiated in Lisbon in order to make the European Union an alternative to the other great economic powers as a motor driving economic growth forward. It was in this perspective that the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs called for a speeding-up in structural reforms, respect for the Stability Pact (he stated that one should not give in to protectionist temptations or budgetary drift), and implementation of a European strategy for sustainable development. Spanish goals include: the creation of a "European transport and telecommunications space"; greater liberalisation and interconnection between the energy markets; the setting up of a single finance market (an action plan for financial services and the Directive on take-over bids); the mobility of workers and labour market reform; education, training and information technology.
On the subject of enlargement, Mr Piqué made a point of emphasising that Spain would respect the path already outlined, particularly the large sections on agriculture and regional policy (he pointed out that these chapters accounted for 80% of the Community budget), as well as financial issues involved in an enlarged Union. Mr Piqué stressed that the Council of Seville would provide the occasion for assessing negotiations and the state of preparations made by Candidate Countries. He also indicated that the Spanish Presidency, together with Denmark, which will take up the reigns of the Presidency in the second half of 2002, would begin and conclude negotiations with a first group of countries and a work group would take charge of drafting the accession treaties.
In the field of external relations, the Spanish Presidency also wants to strengthen the presence of the European Union, which will involve strengthening foreign and joint security policy. Mr Piqué emphasised the need to highlight the importance of European defence and security policy, the necessity of strengthening effective military capacity and strengthening rapid deployment mechanisms. In a reference to Afghanistan, Mr Piqué called for the EU to participate in the reconstruction of the country and for it to send humanitarian aid and action in neighbouring countries. In the Middle East, the Spanish Presidency would like to see the European Union becoming more involved. Mr Piqué claimed that, "the security and stability of the whole Mediterranean area was at stake". The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs also stated that, "If the Process of Barcelona did not exist, it would be necessary to invent it" and expressed his desire for re-launching it whilst introducing more effective measures in the field of security, finance and social questions. He also pointed out that the European Council of Laeken had come out in favour of a Euro-Mediterranean development bank and expressed his wish for strengthening the Trans-Atlantic relationship and supporting Russia. In the Latin American sphere, Mr Piqué indicated that Spain ought to move from words to achieving concrete results. In touching on the realm of co-operation and development, Mr Piqué referred to the ACP and Monterrey Summit on financing development. On the subject of co-operation with the United Nations, Mr Piqué mentioned the necessity of getting an International Criminal Tribunal up and running and obtaining a firms and coherent EU position at the Human Rights Committee meeting.
On Tuesday the Permanent Spanish Representative Francisco Javier Conde de Daro indicated that during a meeting organised by The European Policy Centre, Spain also had its three "Es" (just like the Swedish Presidency). -Euro- The Spanish Ambassador said that it was necessary to promote the Euro as a reserve currency and mentioned the problem of the large supply of DM circulating in Eastern Europe. - More Europe- Mr Conde pointed out that the Convention would begin work on 1 March and announced that "we would like to contribute a certain number of ideas". He declared that they were going to raise a number of questions such as that of knowing what should be done and what was wanted in order for Europe to face up to the challenges like that of Afghanistan. Enlargement: the Ambassador compared the next phases of accession negotiations (see above) as the "Tour de France" like leaving the plains and then having to head for the Pyrenees or Alps
Amongst other priorities Mr Conde referred to were relations with Latin America and relations with the Americas over the next ten years. He believed that they should be seen in a "strategic" way and not as some kind of "patchwork". He also wanted to return to the "original sprit" of the Lisbon Process and put far more emphasis on economic and social aspects and not make environment an overriding policy. In response to some questions, Mr Conde expressed some doubts about Barcelona being able to make much headway in the liberalisation of the post - elections were taking place next year in France and Germany, he said.