Brussels, 14/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - the European Council opened early on Thursday evening with the customary meeting of heads of state and government with the President of the European Parliament. All the major issue of the agenda - enlargement, JHA, immigration and the Constitution - were due to be discussed at the first working session and at dinner (see EUROPE 9327). A few hours earlier, at their “pre-Summit” meeting, Liberal leaders said they believed their political family should once again take the initiative in the European debate.
The leader of the European Liberal Democrats (ELDR) Annemie Neyts called on all Liberal leaders to “re-energise Europe” and put an end to the “EU blues”. Within the EU institutions, in Member States' governments and parliaments, Liberal leaders had to create an environment of renewed cooperation, where each entity concentrated on doing what it does best, adds a press release. While EU policies, such as they were included in the Constitutional Treaty, were criticised, the same could not be said for the improvements to decision-making mechanisms, and account had to be taken of that when the Constitution was being re-examined, stressed Ms Neyts. German Christian Democrat Chancellor Angela Merkel will also work for such a re-examination during her Presidency of the EU. Speaking to the Bundestag on Thursday, Ms Merkel said “I would deem it an historic error, and I say that forcibly, if we were not to succeed, between now and the next European elections, in dealing with the substance of the Constitutional Treaty so that we reach a result”.
While the Summit will not consider the matter of negotiations with Turkey, Mr Vanhanen would not confirm the possibility of new chapters being opened with Ankara in the near future. With some suggesting that the Finnish Presidency intends to start discussions before the end of the year, he acknowledged, “I am not sure we have the time”. The intention signalled by the President of the Italian Council to raise the issue of relations between the EU and Serbia at the Summit was “a positive signal that there was strong support for enlargement”, Mr Vanhanen then responded to journalists, pointing out that Serbia was indeed firmly on the way to accession, but that Belgrade had to meet all the criteria, including full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Although Romano Prodi, backed by other Member States, would like to resume talks on a stabilisation and association agreement with Serbia, in order to support democratic forces prior to the elections on 21 January 2007, the idea is rejected by other countries, which do not wish to take a particular stance for the moment. The issue was due to be raised at dinner on Thursday evening, but many expect that the condition of cooperation with the ICTY will not be reviewed before the elections. The issue will be put on the agenda for foreign ministers, who will meet on 22 January, the day after voting in Serbia. (ab)
European Parliament Plenary Session