Rome / Brussels, 14/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Chairman of the Convention to prepare the next institutional reform, said after a meeting with Silvio Berlusconi, last Friday in Rome, that he had "closely examined" all the declarations made by the Italian Prime Minister on the subject of Europe, and that they "all confirm he plans to make a positive contribution to the success of the Convention". Mr Giscard d'Estaing also repeated that Europe needs Italy, just as the future of Italy is linked to that of Europe. Silvio Berlusconi, for his part, exclaimed during a press conference with Valéry Giscard d'Estaing attended by the Italian Vice-Chairman of the Convention, Giuliano Amato (and also Vice Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini): "The passion I feel for Europe is indisputable and ethically superior to that of many supporters of European policy". To back this up, Silvio Berlusconi distributed on this occasion a file containing 28 of his declarations on Europe, made between 1994 and December 2001. Reacting to remarks made by Jean-Paul II according to which the EU is neglecting the role of religions, he also noted that Europe must take account of religions, and told the press: "I trust you will not also consider the Pope a Euro-sceptic …". Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, for his part, invited the Italian government to appoint its representative to the Convention by end January, thus accepting Mr Berlusconi's request insisting that there should be an Italian government representative, independently of the presence at the Convention of former Prime Minister Giuliano Amato (Socialist).
According to the Italian press, however, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing did not promise Italy that the Intergovernmental Conference to follow the work of the Convention would end at the end of 2003, under Italian Presidency, rather than in 2004 as hitherto envisaged. Mr Giscard d'Estaing apparently remarked in this respect that, if the Convention adopts its conclusions in March 2003 (which would theoretically leave enough time for reflection before a short IGC, with negotiations being concluded in December 2003), and if these conclusions are, as hoped, sufficiently ambitious, this could complicate the task of the countries organising referenda on single currency - Sweden and Denmark and, above all, the United Kingdom.
The Spanish EU Council Presidency indicates in its programme, moreover, that, as regards the future of Europe, "it would be desirable for the Intergovernmental Conference to come to an end in June 2004" and that, in order to achieve this, the Convention must work "effectively and rigorously from the very start in order to be able to draw up a document within the time set comprising options or clear and precise recommendations". The Presidency specifies it is appropriate to "provide sufficient time for reflection between completion of the work of the Convention and the beginning of the IGC, so that the results of this work may be discussed in the context of national debates and at national parliaments". In its view, under these circumstances, the next IGC "could carry out its mission rapidly and decisively by finalising the amendments to be made to the treaties in order to achieve a more integrated Europe". The Presidency stresses that the Convention, an innovation in itself, should "come within the context of the process of constitutionalisation of the treaties and of the European Union". It also states that: - it is "fundamental for the Convention to work in synergy with the European Council", and the latter will keep itself informed of its work, and that the Chairman of the Convention will present to the European Council in Seville a first report, "allowing the Heads of State and Government to set out guidelines"; - it is "above all indispensable" that the Convention members should "act like the real representatives of the Institutions that have chosen them"; - the Convention "should seek to keep to a concrete and realistic approach", in order to avoid "theoretical and abstract debates that are lost in the definition of artificial archetypes", and "never lose sight of the need to meet the concerns of citizens".
Reform of the Council and governance
In the part of its programme on the future of Europe, the Presidency also indicates that:
- In conformity with the Laeken conclusions, it "will endeavour to promote discussion" on the proposals concerning reform of the EU Council ("vital and top priority" issue) to be made by the Secretary General of the Council before Barcelona, so that the Seville Summit may draw the "relevant operational conclusions".
- It will "adopt appropriate measures to that the Council may carry out an in-depth debate on European governance as soon as the consultation period provided for in the White Paper is over, and in the light of the results of consultation". In addition, it "undertakes to continue and to intensify" the debate on regulatory simplification, "the next stage of which should lead to the development of a concrete plan of action during the first half of 2002".