Vienna, 09/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - Speaking to reporters in Vienna on 9 January after the traditional working meeting between the new Presidency of the Council and the European Commission (see other articles), the Austrian Chancellor, Wolfgang Schussel, said the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU would be divided into two parts, from now until the 23/24 March Spring Summit focussing on employment, and from that summit until the 15/16 June European Council, which is expected to outline ideas about the future of Europe. Both Schussel and Jose Manuel Barroso kept returning to the link between improving the 'context' (which is of greatest interest to ordinary people, namely the EU's economic performance, the role of job machines like SMEs and education, said Schussel) and the European Constitution 'text' (which is 'not dead' but neither is it in force, said Schussel). He said he had decided to ask former French foreign minister and former European Commissioner Michel Barnier to carry out research for the June Summit to 'study how to improve civilian crisis management, which is also part of the European model, our way of life.'
Schussel said the Austrian Presidency's work on the future of Europe would start with a conference in Salzburg on 27/28 January (see EUROPE 9101), and would continue with reflection at the General Affairs Council (which has responsibility for this issue), with a big conference on subsidiarity and then a great debate with ordinary people in May. On Tuesday 10 January, Ursula Plassnik will be in Paris (France), and in The Hague (the Netherlands) the next day, explained the President of the European Council, Wolfgang Schussel. He said the question to be asked was what future model people wanted and how people wanted to live in Europe, and the Constitution was only one part of that discussion. Schussel urged all Member States to take an active role in the debate, warning that he didn't want any new dividing lines in the EU. Asked about Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt's idea of a core group of Member States around the euro, Schussel said the idea had been mooted but everyone has to be able to provide their own ideas and aspirations, and ordinary people had to be involved in the debate. Current events, he said, clearly demonstrate the value added that the European Union can provide, said the Austrian Chancellor, mentioning energy supplies (a big issue on the agenda of the Spring Summit) and dealing with bird flu (to be discussed by the Council on 23 January, see other article).
'I really believe 2006 can be the year of a new drive for Europe,' said Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, at the same press conference. Barroso was delighted the Austrian Presidency had asked for the European Commission to contribute to the debate on the future of the EU, explaining that the Commission would be coming up with 'a roadmap and a programme for the future.' He said the future funding of the EU was also part of this programme for the future, adding that the Commission had been asked to come up with proposals on the funding of the EU in 2008-2009. Like the Austrian Chancellor, the President of the European Commission said it was important to change 'context' now, rather than looking 'obsessively' at the text, but admitted that institutional problems exist and will have to be tackled. Schussel said that he agreed to the European Constitution because it is better than the Nice Treaty, which is very complicated. Echoing Chancellor Schussel, Barroso said 'please, let's avoid new divisions in Europe about the institutions'. Barroso started his speech by wishing reporters Happy New Year in German, saying he was certain that a 'climate change' could now be brought about in public opinion. Of course, he commented, we'll have to ask President Chirac how things are going in France, but everyone will have to give their views, all 25 - or rather, all 27, because Romania and Bulgaria will soon be joining the EU.