Indications are mounting, as are, sometimes, the number of indiscretions. I am referring to the ongoing, multi-level talks regarding the institutional innovations that will transform the way the European Union works under the Lisbon treaty. Our publication regularly reports back on them but certain aspects deserve some comment.
1. The three Benelux countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg) published a joint draft (published in the Annex to this bulletin) that particularly focused on the roles of the future permanent president of the European Council and the person who will fulfil the triple role of vice-president of the Commission, the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy and the president of the External Relations Council. The Benelux countries are keen to safeguard the “Community method” and prevent the big member states having a preferential relationship with the people heading the new roles. The latter have to be part of the Community structures and work in liaison with the rotating presidencies of the Council and with the Commission (and not set up their own networks or selective links with certain Heads of government or foreign affairs ministers). The future stable presidency of the European Council must listen to the institutions and all member states and demonstrate sensitivity to the institutional balances characterising the Community method. This is not yet explicitly stated in the document in full but I do believe that it is the main concern illustrated in this text. It should not be forgotten that Benelux countries have been unable to take any significant political initiatives for a long time.
Several other small and medium-sized member states appear to share the concerns of the Benelux countries.
2. German sauces have indicated that if the new Commission were nominated under the Treaty of Nice (which stipulates that the number of Commissioners is lower than the number of member states, Germany would call for an Executive that it limited to 15 or 18 Commissioners. This either some kind of joke or warning rather than a political orientation because it would then require, under the Lisbon Treaty and the commitment already made by Heads of government, to have as many Commissioners as member states and urgently nominate a dozen other Commissioners! Therefore, I don't think this is an official position.
3. Report by Elmar Brok MEP (EPP). This particularly calls for the future European external action service to form part of the Commission services and be financed by its budget. Andrew Duff (Liberals) spoke in favour of this. The EP's Constitutional Affairs Committee is proposing to adopt this report on 19 October and is requesting that the EP supports this position at the plenary on 22 October in Strasbourg.
4. European Diplomatic Service (B). Legal experts underline that the service in question will be a joint Commission and Council initiative. The Lisbon Treaty means that the organisation and functioning of this service will be set out be a Council decision on the basis of a proposal of the High Representative, following consultation with the European Parliament and with the approval of the Commission. The opinion of the Parliament is therefore advocated. In other respects, the Lisbon Treaty also recommends that the future financial regulation to determine the Community budget will be established by the Parliament and Council in co-decision. The new service will be autonomous and directly accountable to the High Representative and will have an ad hoc funding system. The way in which its activities develop will be worked out gradually (EUROPE 9992). A document on setting it up and its objectives and how it works is currently being elaborated and will be submitted to the European Council on 29 and 30 October.
The Parliament's concerns are understandable but it would be useful for it to take note of the Benelux document and the text to be submitted to the European Council at the end of the month.
5. A word from the British? Mr Cameron has confirmed that if his party wins the next elections in the United Kingdom and the Lisbon Treaty is still not in force, he will organise a referendum and call for a no-vote. Moreover, everything would appear to give us hope that this treaty will be in force by the beginning of next year. Cameron's objective for the referendum would therefore have to change. His fellow-countryman, Nigel Farage, co-president of the “Europe of Freedom and Democracy” at the European Parliament wants the British people to vote on the UK very participation in the EU and is calling for the country to leave. This is perhaps a good idea, a people should always be allowed to choose. I don't think the British want to leave the EU but why not ask them, Mr Farage might be in for a little surprise.
(F.R.)