Brussels, 18/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - The informal European Council opened in Lisbon on the evening of Thursday 18 October against a background of statements indicating that there would be difficult negotiations ahead on the final problems still blocking the way to the adoption of the new ET Treaty. On Thursday, Poland threatened to block discussions if it is not successful in its call for the 1994 political statement on the “Ionnina clause” to become EU primary law, either by incorporating it into the Treaty or by including it in a protocol annexed to the Treaty (which would give it the same legal status). Three days before general elections (on 21 October), the outcome of which is expected to be very close, Polish President Lech Kaczynski announced just prior to leaving for Lisbon that he was prepared to cause the failure of the Summit if his demands were not met. “We don't want anything more than has already been agreed” in the June mandate (the mandate does not provide in any way for a change in the legal status of the Ionnina clause: Ed.), Kaczynski said, adding, “Otherwise, we will have to delay the discussion”. This hardening of Warsaw's stance does not augur well, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who, on arrival in Lisbon, said she was expecting “difficult negotiations”. “'We have lots to settle,” she stressed, expressing, nonetheless, “cautious optimism”. Luxemburg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker also acknowledged that Poland continued to pose a “serious problem”
With regard to Italy's reservations over the allocation of seats in the European Parliament, on Thursday Italian European Affairs Minister Emma Bonino called on the other member states to show understanding. “We hope that account will be taken of our concerns,” she said, stressing that Italy did not see that there was “any need” to decide on the composition of the EP at the same time as the Treaty “since the two issues are not related legally” and the new make-up of the European Parliament will only apply after the 2009 elections. Responding to rumours of an Italian veto, Council President Romano Prodi said that “if there was to be an Italian veto, it would not be on the Treaty, but on the composition of the European Parliament. If somebody absolutely wants to link the two issues, he should assume full responsibility”.
The Czech Republic did not appear ready to give up its demand either. Prague wants a clause in the future Treaty guaranteeing greater “two-way flexibility” with regard to the allocation of competences between the EU and member states. In concrete terms, it is calling for member states to be able not only to grant further competences to the EU but for them to be able to take back some powers if they so wish. Should a request be made by the Council, the Commission should be required to withdraw a proposal. “We will strongly fight for our proposal to be included in the Treaty,” said Czech Prime Minister Miroslav Topolanek. The Commission and a large number of member states are fiercely opposed to this Czech demand.
There was also good news in Lisbon on Thursday: the dispute between the European Commission and Austria over access of European students to faculties of medicine in Austrian universities has been settled, just before the Summit opened. Austria was linking this issue to the adoption of the Treaty, calling for the Treaty to contain guarantees that the current quota system - which the Commission was up to that point challenging and over which it had opened infringement proceedings - would be retained for an indeterminate length of time. As announced by Commission President José Manuel Barroso on Wednesday (see yesterday's edition of EUROPE), the agreement provides for the suspension of infringement proceedings for five years. “The proceedings have been suspended for five years, during which time we will try to find a long term solution,” said Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer when he arrived in Lisbon. Austrian reservations over the Treaty have this been removed. (H.B.)