EU-voorzitter Schüssel: "Europese Grondwet blijft komende jaren belangrijk thema" (en)

EU leaders discuss Constitutional Treaty, migration and integration

The President in office of the European Council, Austria's Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, briefed the press on Thursday evening on the results of the EU leaders' first working session and their discussions over dinner in the framework of the European Council i: "We had a very interesting discussion on how to proceed on the Constitutional Treaty as well as on integration and migration. These themes will remain on the agenda over the next few years."

On the constitutional debate, Chancellor Schüssel said there was a consensus that the Nice Treaty was not sufficient in the long term. "There is also agreement that the substance of the Constitutional Treaty is sound and should be retained. However, there is no agreement as to which new element should secure this substance." A text had therefore been agreed that would be formally adopted on Friday, according to the Chancellor.

This text begins by citing the decisions taken by the June 2005 European Council, namely that the national debates during the reflection period would be evaluated. It was encouraging that, since June 2005, a further five Member States had ratified the Constitutional Treaty, bringing to 15 so far the total number of countries that had completed the ratification process. Two Member States to date had not been able to ratify, and eight Member States had still to complete the process. The text also notes that the reflection period had been very useful in taking greater account of citizens' concerns and fears. "This process of communicating with the European public must be continued", Schüssel said.

"We have thus ended the reflection period. A new phase is to begin in which we concentrate on concrete results and projects. We have therefore tabled a proposal setting out a two-pronged approach. This involves, firstly, using the existing treaties to achieve concrete results and, secondly, the presidency during the first six months of 2007 will present a report following consultations with the Member States to take stock of the state of discussions and examine future possible developments", Schüssel explained.

"Future decisions will be based on this report. The decisive steps should be taken in the second half of 2008 at the latest. Every presidency since the beginning of the ratification process has a special responsibility to carry this process forward", Schüssel said. A ceremonial conference of the Heads of State and Government will take place in Berlin on 25 March 2007 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Rome Treaties.

On the subject of integration and migration, Schüssel said there had initially been a policy debate along the lines of that in March 2006 on energy policy. "It was very interesting to hear about the experience of the individual Member States. It became clear there is an urgent need to proceed together and to act." He added that an internal and an external strategy were being pursued in these areas. What was important with regard to the external strategy was to improve border protection and to wage a determined battle against people smugglers and human trafficking.

With regard to the internal strategy, there was consensus on the need to place particular emphasis on language learning and acceptance of the common values such as democracy, women's rights, tolerance and human rights. "There must be no compromises here. These are the values that define Europe. It is therefore crucial to spotlight these issues", Schüssel concluded.