Brussels, 18/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday evening, the Council discussed a note by the Danish Presidency on reforming the Council Presidency. Denmark will make an initial report-back to the Copenhagen Summit on the issue. The "small countries", which want to preserve institutional harmony, want to simply improve the currency revolving Presidency system. Diplomatic sources report that several small countries, following the example of Belgium (which was the first to take the floor on Monday), feel that the issue is one for the Convention and the IGC is not really a subject for the General Affairs Council. Most of the big Member States, on the other hand, feel that it is not enough to simply adapt the current system, suggested diplomatic sources before the Council. Opening the meeting, the Presidency emphasised that its report (which the Seville European Council had instructed it to write) would be a preliminary report and would not aim to take decisions, report the same sources. At the time we went to press, debate at the Council had just begun.
One of the most highly debated ideas was that of a long-duration European Council Presidency. Spain, the UK, France and, to an extent, Italy favour this idea, but many countries do not want to discuss it for the moment, indicate diplomatic sources. Another issue under discussion is whether to strengthen the role of the Secretary General, High Representative for ESDP. In its note, the Presidency outlines three models. Model 1 amounts to keeping the current system, pushing the cooperation logic between current and future Presidencies to its limits. Issues would be handed over to the following Presidency at the last Council or Coreper meeting that discussed the issue and the Presidency under which a common position was drawn up would continue the conciliation procedure with the EP during the following Presidency. Model 2 involves combining an "institutional" Presidency (the High Representative would chair the General Affairs and External Relations Council, and a general Vice-President would chair Coreper) with either a revolving presidency or different presidencies elected for the various Councils. Model 3 proposes a 3 to 5 member presidency team for 1.5 to 2.5 years, renewed either by team or by rotation, possibly with the High Representative chairing the General Affairs Council.