Brussels, 20/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - At a press conference on Thursday 20 December in Brussels, the Slovenian minister for foreign affairs and the future acting president of the Council, Dimitrij Rupel, officially presented the priorities of the Slovenian presidency of the EU in the first half of 2008.
Lisbon Treaty. Mr Rupel explained that “the success of the treaty ratification process is the main priority of our presidency” so that it can enter into force on 1 January 2009. Rupel affirmed that Slovenia wants to set an example and ratify the treaty in early 2008.
Energy/climate package. This important dossier will occupy the European Council on 13-14 March and “very probably the June summit too”, explained Rupel. Following the political agreement of March 2007 on the main objectives in the energy and climate package, the Commission's detailed legislative proposals (particularly on cost sharing) are expected on 23 January 2008. Rupel stressed that “there will be very little time between now and the March summit to prepare decisions but we will do everything to get there”. The Slovenian presidency will also strive to find an agreement on liberalisation of the internal gas and electricity market, as well as continue the energy dialogue with other regions in the world.
Lisbon strategy. The second round (2008-11) in the renewed strategy will be launched during the European Council in March. The presidency's programme stipulates that “the commitment of all member states to implementing National Reform Programmes in line with a common strategy remains crucial” to the success of the new round. “The Slovenian presidency will seek to balance the need for stability of the programme framework, the integrated guidelines and the Community Lisbon programme, with the need to respond to new challenges and identified shortcomings”.
Western Balkans. Kosovo (see below) is the main priority in the external relations arena. The Slovenian presidency wants to “strengthen” the European prospects for the Balkans and “refresh” the Thessalonica Agenda of 2003, which stipulates that Balkan countries have a vocation in joining the EU if they respect the criteria. First stage: the signing of the stabilisation and association agreements (SAA). Mr Rupel wants the five countries involved to have got through this stage by the end of June, including Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina which have not yet signed their SAA. Without questioning the conditions imposed on these two countries (full cooperation with the ICTFY for Serbia, police reform for Bosnia), Mr Rupel appealed for a more flexible approach from the EU, particularly towards Belgrade. Rupel says that on the question of arresting war criminals, Serbia should be treated no differently than Croatia, which only got its main fugitive, General Gotovina, to the ICTFY “four years after it concluded its association agreement”. The Slovenian presidency also believes that Serbia and Macedonia should obtain candidate country status “as soon as possible”. The presidency would like the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRM), an official candidate since December 2005, to be offered a date for opening accession negotiations.
Kosovo. Following the unfruitful meeting of the UN Security Council on 19 December (see other article), the Slovenian presidency will pay “particular attention” to this issue, “especially given that it is a European question on which the EU should assume its responsibilities”, explained Mr Rupel. Following the political agreement at the European Council on 14 December on the ESDP civilian mission of police and rule of law in Kosovo (EUROPE 9565), the “External Council” on 28 January will attempt to find an agreement on the legal basis and operational details for the missions, which will have to have the EU27's approval. The Slovenian presidency and most member states consider that Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council is enough for deploying the ESDP mission. Rupel argues that “if Resolution 1244 recently enabled NATO to confirm the maintaining of its military presence (KFOR) in Kosovo, this same resolution naturally provides a suitable and sufficient legal basis for a civilian mission like the one envisaged by the European Union”. The Slovenian presidency will therefore seek to “convince” countries still harbouring doubts (Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia, Romania, Netherlands). Rupel points out that “we will fight for the required unanimity”. He did not rule out the holding of an extraordinary Council.
Summits with third countries. As well as the summits to be presided with the US, Japan and Russia, Mr Rupel highlighted the summit with Latin American and Caribbean countries (16-17 May in Lima, Peru). Two subjects will dominate this meeting: social cohesion (particularly the fight against poverty) and the fight against climate change.
EUROPE will be publishing a special “Slovenian presidency” dossier in its 22 December bulletin. (H.B.)