Strasbourg, 14/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - Taoiseach Bertie Ahern presented the programme for the term of Irish EU Council Presidency, the sixth Presidency held by his country, to the European Parliament on Wednesday. He said he has consulted with the Heads of State and Government with a view to resuming the Intergovernmental Conference on European Constitution and that discussions are already "well under way". He has spoken with many already and all have confirmed their commitment to finding a way forward. The Irish Prime Minister, who began his speech with a phrase in Gaelic, assured that "if my consultations suggest there is a real prospect of agreement, I will immediately move to seize the opportunity". At any rate, he promised, he would present the fullest report possible on the prospects of the IGC to the European Council in March, telling MEPs that he has heard their message and that he knows they wish the IGC to complete its work as soon as possible. "I share your view", he said, and the Irish Presidency will do everything it can to reach the "earliest possible agreement" on the Constitution. However, he warned, it remains to be seen whether this will be feasible. He repeated that what is needed is "sufficient collective political will". The European Constitution is "fundamental" if citizens' expectations are to be met (a theme often repeated in his speech) and also to play a more coherent role on the world scene, he insisted. He warned that failure could harm their credibility. Enlargement to be celebrated on 1 May in Dublin is another strong moment of Irish Presidency, Mr Ahern noted, saying it is a pleasure to hold the Presidency at a time when "history is being made" and that everything that Ireland has gained over the past thirty years by entering Europe should be an encouragement for the future Member States. He said they would make an effort to achieve "smooth" integration by the new Member States and to ensure that the Council will continue to operate as effectively as possible. On the subject of financial perspectives, Mr Ahern announced that the Presidency, after having heard the "initial reactions" of Member States to the European Commission communication (expected for 25 January), would present a timetable to the European Council of 25 and 26 March for continuing work. For the rest, Mr Ahern mainly placed emphasis on the Lisbon process (and especially on job creation), cooperation with the United Nations, conflict prevention and the fight against poverty and disease in Africa (another theme dear to the Irish government), and cooperation with the United States and with the other Union partners. The task ahead is immense, concluded the President of the European Council, but "our strength is in our unity".
The first of May will really be a day of celebration, Romano Prodi added to this, saying he was delighted that the celebration would take place in Ireland as the "jubilation and conviviality of the Irish" was well-known. The President of the European Commission confirmed that, by the end of February he would give the names of the Commissioners for the ten new Member States so that the European Parliament may organise its hearings (no doubt in April: see also EUROPE of 10 January, p.5). After this enlargement, the Union will discover "a new landscape" over and beyond its new frontiers, as one does when one gets to a "mountain pass". From such a height, we shall also see our new neighbours who are part of our circle of friends extending from the Mediterranean to Russia, Mr Prodi commented. On the external priorities of the Irish Presidency, Mr Prodi placed emphasis on continuing effective multilateralism and stressed the importance of the meeting with Kofi Annan, in Brussels in two weeks' time. We must help the Secretary General to make UN reform move forward, he urged. Furthermore, "2004 must be the year of the new European Constitution", Romano Prodi exclaimed, hoping that consensus would "ripen" on outstanding issues (Bertie Ahern is "a master of patience and persuasion", he noted). He went on to insist that we should all move forward "together toward stronger and shared integration", before going on to add that, if all attempts fail, "one could not oppose the effort made by some" to move forward although "this is not the historic phase in which we work at present; we are working with a view to agreement from us all". As far as the Lisbon Process is concerned, Mr Prodi insisted that all measures decided in this context would bear fruit only if they result in "real policies at national level". He insisted on elements of the Lisbon strategy which he is very keen on - research and human resources: "our young people must be able to find study, employment and success opportunities in Europe - our survival depends upon it".
MEPs appeal for end to debate on two-speed Europe
The debate provoked general sympathy from parliamentarians for the new presidency but was accompanied by a few criticisms, nonetheless. The relaunch of the IGC was at the centre of most contributions but many MEPs insisted on the rapid re-start of work. Some, including the Irish, thought it necessary to have sufficient time for ensuring the success of the constitution. Following the ideas expressed by Romano Prodi on the need to go forward together, several speakers requested that they stop stoking up the horror of a two-speed Europe. Hans-Gert Pöttering, president of the EPP-ED group exclaimed that the appeals from a "European core" were mistaken in substance, "how can such a Europe work?" and in form, as they were launched as a "threat" to certain countries. The co-president of the Greens/EFA group, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, vehemently contended, asking the question, "who invented this "European core?", "tell your Schaüble and your Lamers", who sought to exclude Italy from the Euro (allusion to the Schaüble-Lamers paper of 1994) and "I will go and tell my own Fischer!" (reference to Joschka Fischer's speech at Humbolt University). The European constitution, was "the priorities of priorities" assured Mr Pöttering. He declared that he supported double majority at the Council and thought that it was not necessary to get too attached to it to the point of capsizing the constitutional exercise: "everyone has to move", he said (reference to the assertion by Chancellor Schröder who considered that proposals on this subject were not open for negotiation). Pötering insisted that relations with the USA did not mean that they were their slaves nor their adversaries and that they had to be firm on the unacceptable situation with the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay (the same thing for the Russians in Chechnya). Enrique Baron the president of the Socialist group informed Mr Ahern that it was nice to have a reliable, serious and experienced speaker after the "political and media bragging" of his predecessor (more praise from for the Irish government from the Spanish Socialist party, after being the first to choose a women, Ann Anderson, as Permanent Representative at Coreper one of the most "macho" places in the Union). Mr Baron also welcomed the firm and cautious attitude of the Irish presidency on the subject of the European constitution on the lines of the Latin principle of festina lente; the parliament, he was keen to point out, had also adopted a position that was "firm and serious" on the future constitution. Graham Watson, president of the Liberal group stressed the importance of the constitution with future enlargement. He declared that if Europe did not have the necessary instruments to make enlargement work if would be like changing the oil when a new engine was needed. On the subject of enlargement he quoted James Joyce a "sullen" Irish writer, who when in Trieste wrote that history was "a nightmare from which we try to awake". Bertie Ahern replied to him quoting Seamus Heany, Irish Nobel prize winner for literature. The British Liberal Democrat said that the Irish presidency had to work to resurrect the stability pact in one shape or other and expressed worries about the situation in Russia (he mentioned not just Chechnya but also the "vanishing political pluralism" and the conditions of the prisoners in Guantanamo again). He said that the Union's dialogue with the US had to place its own values of loyalty on the agenda. The co-president of the Greens-EFA, Daniel Cohn-Bendit told the Taoiseach the Irish president that "you tell us that the European Convention had done a wonderful job on the Convention, then take it!". Cohn-Bendit said that the Italian presidency had declared that at the IGC there had been agreement on 85 points, "forget it!", the British government was insisting, he said, on the maintaining of its "red lines" in this negotiation, "forget it!". Speaking about the external action of the Union, the German Green pointed to the policy towards China (to criticise Chancellor Schröder's intention of exporting a uranium producing factory there), Iran (saying: yes to the aid after the earthquake but be careful of the consequences of an "earthquake policy" which is the exclusion of hundreds of candidates from the general elections next February). Speaking about the measures of strengthened security demanded by the Americans, Mr Cohn-Bendit exhorted the EU to follow the Brazilian example, which demanded reciprocity for digital imprints and other controls when they entered the USA. Cohn-Bendit also spoke about the Commission's approach in the France Germany affair and the stability pact, exclaiming, Mr Prodi has been heroic while the pact was a "swine but that the Commission's approach was "stupid" because it was stupid to defend rules that did not work (for Mr Prodi's response see p 8).
Francis Wurtz, president of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left put the failure of the IGC down to "not seeing the wood for the trees" and that this failure was "a symptom of a greater failing, the absence of a common project on which Europeans could recognise. He said that a cat needed to be called a cat and a crisis a crisis, which meant that they had to recognise what was not going well in the Union and break three taboos: crisis of the Euro and stability pact. Mass unemployment and the Euro zone " is being submitted to without broaching the predatory monetary policy of Washington. Mr Wurtz said that this had to change.
In the context of the solutions put forward for launching economic growth, he mentioned the "major works" and criticised the priority given to the private sector, citing the president of the European Investment Bank who said that the private sector "is interested if the projects present a sufficient level of returns" and also that "the expression of 'growth initiative' can lead to confusion…this does not involve measures for trying to create short term growth". On the stability pact Mr Wurtz exclaimed that the crisis did not oblige them to go back on their rules and "throw them into profound political reflection"; crisis of financial perspectives and solidarity policy. Mr Wurtz made specific mention of the "shameful initiative of the six richest countries in the Union" on the EU budget, asking, "will we discuss this on 1 May during the enlargement celebrations?"; the crisis of external EU action. He said that he knew that there was a "state level lie" on the issue of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that they knew that the occupation of Iraq would increase " terrorism which it was supposed to suppress". Mr Wurtz said that everyone was aware of that by that the Union was incapable of speaking out and drawing the lessons. He also insisted that this had to change. Change could come about, he said, with them supporting the courageous efforts of Israeli and Palestinians who were united for peace and in Latin America (which is in full democratic effervescence which had the White House in its sights and was seeking genuine partnerships which was a great opportunity for the Union. The president of the Union for a Europe Of Nations, Gerhard Collins called on the institutions to resist appeals from those who wanted to freeze the EU budget at the moment of enlargement and also that they put a stop to the gathering momentum of the idea of a two-speed Europe. He warned that this would be "highly destructive" and could even compromise the existence of the Union. Jens-Peter Bonde, the president of Europe of Democracies and Diversities, insisted on the need for equality between Member States and the maintaining of the veto, as well as the holding of referendums on the constitution at the same time in all Member States. Non attached members such as the Northern Irish Ian Paisley also called for referendums on the constitution and Bertie Ahern answered, assuring him of his admiration for him, with a smile, that in the Republic of Ireland, referendums were the rule, which should make them appear positive in "your eyes" 'Paisley's eyes).
Polemic between groups on future of Commission
During the debate Hans-Gert Pöttering repeated that the EPP-ED group would not agree to the president of the future European Commission coming from a political force that won the European elections next June and that the Commission should not reflect the reflect the results of these elections which it said that it was sure to win. Enrique Baron replied to him, smiling, claiming that the Socialists would win the elections as well. Like Mr Pöttering, Enrique Baron called on the Irish presidency to not come up with proposals on a candidate for the presidency before knowing the election results. German Social Democrat Martin Schulz warned his CDU compatriot: Mr Pöttering, Let's first of all wait to see the election results and the "centrifugal forces" in action, notable on the side of the British Conservatives of Mr Pöttering's group. Schulz added that the next president of the Commission would need the votes of the Socialists. German Green Daniel Cohn-Bendit was sarcastic, "Mr Pöttering, you put yourself across as if your were against this…but you should agree t the results of the elections and you will see, together with your British Conservatives, which candidate you can support!" (Mr Pöttering taken to task in such a way by his colleagues, did not lose his smile). Forza Italia MEP Antonio Tajani once again asked Romano Prodi if he intended to be a candidate in the European elections, "you have to decide" he warned but go no response.
Romano Prodi confirmed that on 28 February he would give the names of the Commissioners from the ten new Member States for the period May - November). he remarked that these "candidates are strong and able" and would still be around after their temporary mandate. He noted that these were personalities that performed important roles, which confirmed that the Commission was "more and more a political body" (which ought to serve as an example for existing Member States). In the press conference, President Cox thought that the European election results should be taken into account in the choice of the next president of the European Commission, but that this would not be a legal obligation as provisions in the draft constitution were not in force.
Bertie Ahern has still not received the list of 85 point on which Silvio Berlusconi said there
was consensus, from outgoing presidency
During the debate Bertie Ahern was asked by Pasqualina Napoletano (Democratici di sinistra) and Helle Thorning-Schmidt (Danish Social Democrat) about the 85 points in the future consitution on which Silvio Berlusconi informed the European Parliament on 16 December that there was consensus between Member States (after the IGC of 16 December). He told the Danish MEP (Ms Napoletatno spoke about the mysterious message from Berlusconi to Ahern) that they had requested this list in vain. Berie Ahern admitted that for the instant their "opening position" is the draft Convention and we as acquired the compromise discussed bilaterally but which have not been tabled. He said that they would meet Berlusconi shortly as well as his officials. He repeated that as long as they did not have an agreement on everything they could not have agreement on anything.
In both plenary and press conference, Ahern repeated that he would formally convene the IGC when he considered that it had a chance of succeeding as another failure would be very serious. At the same time he warned of the danger of too great a delay, noting that if they did not have a constitution in 2004 they would be with an enlarged Union, a new Commission , a new Parliament and that there would no longer be a feeling that was clear about the Convention acquis and the temptation would be to undo them.
The debate: IGC, but also economy and human rights
Of the MEPs who spoke on the IGC, Klaus Hänsch (SPD) said that the best way of putting an end to talks of two-speed Europe was to adopt the Constitution, staying close to the Convention's text. Could the Presidency not pencil in an IGC before 1 May? asked British Liberal Andrew Duff, and Elmar Brok (CDU) warned: with no Constitution, no Charter of Fundamental Rights, no increased role for national parliaments. French Sovereignist Georges Berthu wondered what place Turkey would have in the European Institutions "in forty years", and where they would stand in vote-weighting in Council.
Others, such as William Abitbol (EDD, French) stressed the economic situation. He said that it is on this that the Presidency should be judged, and not on a "premature" Constitution, and attacked the strong-euro policy ("a bit sadistic, sadly") of the ECB. On a more positive note, Luxembourg Socialist Robert Goebbels called upon the Presidency to make a proposal on new own resources, suggesting a "liberating tax on savings products" or a "tax on carbon dioxide emissions" ("a cent per litre of petrol, which would pay for the European networks", he said). Every year, you promise the results of the Lisbon strategy, what is going on? asked Avril Doyle (EPP, Ireland). Mr Prodi agreed, stressing once again research and human resources (400,000 European scientists are in the US, but if we are to achieve the Lisbon objectives, we will need an extra 700,000 in ten years, he said).
John Huhme, Nobel Prize-winning Irish Socialist, asked that instead of soldiers, the EU send "teams" into conflict zones to teach dialogue and the EU's "philosophy of peace". Italian Radical Marco Pannella, drawing a parallel between Italy and Ireland (mass emigration to the US, "papism still weighing down on our societies") pleaded for Europe to be more active in human rights, and able to "oppose the Vatican's vetoes on freedom of research".