Brussels, 19/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Greek Presidency presented the General Affairs Council with what was still a quite preliminary first draft of the agenda for the European Council of Thessaloniki on 20 and 21 June. Apart from an examination of the preliminary draft Constitutional Treaty, the European Council will be invited to 1) evaluate measures put into place to fight illegal immigration (management of external borders, integration of immigration policy into relations with third countries, speeding up legislative work in terms of the common asylum and immigration policy, financing removal measures, cost-sharing); 2) take stock of progress made on enlargement; 3) examine the reinforcement of the stabilisation and association policy in the Balkans; 4) examine, based on the conclusions of the General Affairs Council, the strategy for relations with the future new neighbours (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, southern Mediterranean countries); 5) approve the BEPG and the guidelines for employment, and examine, based on a Presidency report, progress in implementing the Lisbon strategy. On external relations, the Presidency wishes to hold discussions on: - progress made in developing ESDP; - the common Russia strategy; - conflict prevention; - basic principles for a global, coherent and effective European policy on arms of mass destruction; - relations with the United States in the perspective of the EU/United States Summit of 25 June.
The ensuing exchange of views focused mainly of the work of the European Convention and the timetable for the future inter-governmental conference. Several delegations (Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, and others) stated the view that it is not yet time to set a date for opening the IGC. Belgium also pleaded for flexibility, highlighting the fact that the Convention with doubtless need a bit more time to scrutinise the third part (on Union policies) of the future treaty. The Hungarian delegation, supported by, amongst others, Germany, Denmark and Italy, stated that the future Member States should be able to take part in the IGC on an equal footing, and that the IGC should not start its work until the last referendum of the candidate countries, on 20 September. The new Treaty will be signed after accession by the new Member States, 1 May 2004. During this debate, several delegations (notably Ireland, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands) said that it would be wrong to "try and force consensus", and that it would be preferable for the Convention to put together options on the most controversial issues.