Brussels, 14/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday evening (17 June), in Luxembourg, the General Affairs Council, which is to prepare the European Council on 21/22 June, will begin with a discussion by foreign ministers on the future treaty of the EU. In order to prepare this debate, the German Presidency sent a working document to member states on Thursday calling for a “precise and comprehensive mandate” for the upcoming talks within the IGC. It listed six open issues that require further discussion: - EU symbols and the primacy of EU law; changes in terminology; what to do with a Charter of Fundamental Rights; the place of EU foreign policy; the division of powers between Brussels and member states; and the role of national parliaments.
On the other hand, the voting system in the Council of Ministers is not one of the questions mentioned by the Presidency despite the Polish request that the double majority foreseen in the constitutional treaty be changed. On the other hand, bearing in mind the positions expressed by member states, the Presidency gives up the idea of a “constitutional” treaty once and for all (the word is removed from the text) and urges for a treaty to amend existing treaties (amending treaty). Additional references to energy supply security and climate change may be added to the text, on condition that they do not confer new powers on the EU, the Presidency explains, stressing that: “all member states recognise that further uncertainty about the treaty reform process would jeopardise the Union's ability to deliver”. There is therefore a “general desire to settle this issue and move on”.
Speaking before the Bundestag in Berlin on Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel warned against failure at the European Council which, in her view, would have “painful consequences”. Mentioning the Polish problem of double majority, Ms Merkel warned that “a solution is not yet in sight. It can only be found by unanimity. It can only be found in a form that continues to help Europe to function as a whole”.
The risk of a Polish veto on the subject of double majority was also a key point raised during talks between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Polish President Lech Kaczynski in Warsaw on Thursday. “Not everything has been solved, but I understand the fears, aspirations and demands of the Polish government better”, said Sarkozy. Even if Poland wants the European Council to be a “success” and is “ready to make a number of concessions”, it will not accept double majority which “brings Poland down in rank during voting”, Mr Kaczynski told the press. The Polish president will be in Berlin on Saturday for a meeting with Angela Merkel. (hb)