The main Brussels Council conclusions

The Heads of state and of government of the 25 EU member states, accompanied by their foreign ministers, met in Brussels on Thursday and Friday in the Council of the European Union. A number of major decisions were taken, some of which are summarised here.

The European Constitution

Last year, EU leaders gave themselves a year to reflect on the problem created by the rejection of the EU Constitution in two member states - France and the Netherlands - which effectively prohibits it from coming into effect.

Many have pronounced the Constitution to be dead and their verdict may turn out to have been correct. However, 15 member states, including our own country, have ratified it and eight are in differing stages of doing so.

At last week's European Council meeting, the EU leaders extended the period of reflection and bound the Presidency to report to the EU leaders in the first semester of 2007 on the state of play in the ratification process and the next steps.

Enlargement

In December the Council will debate all aspects of enlargement, including the crucial one on the EU's capacity to absorb new members. Many people in the EU feel that the Union must first digest the current enlargement before attempting to expand further.

Bulgaria and Romania

With respect to Bulgaria and Romania, both considered to be part of the current enlargement, it is still the EU's intention to admit them on January 1, 2007.

However, there is still some concern about corruption in both countries and the Commission is expected to submit another monitoring report in early October, on the basis of which the member states will decide whether to admit the two countries or not.

Turkey

The EU will continue to support reform in Turkey. During 2006 the EU is to assess whether Turkey is fulfilling its obligations under the additional agreement to the Customs Union.

Turkey has a customs union with the EU and last year this was extended to the ten new member states. However Turkey continues not to apply its provisions to Cyprus.

Turkey must recognise Cyprus and stop its discriminatory practices if it has any desire to see progress in its membership ambitions.

Croatia

Union leaders welcomed the start of membership negotiations with Croatia, emphasising the principle that the successful closure of these negotiations depends on the country's merits and the fulfilment of the enlargement conditions.

This is a clear signal that if Croatia successfully concludes its negotiations before Turkey, it will not be held back.

Migration

As expected, migration featured prominently in the Council's deliberations. A number of decisions were taken, which when implemented could see some improvements in the rapidly changing situation.

Firstly, the EU underlined the need to develop the Global Approach to Migration, agreed six months ago.

The Council has called for enhanced efforts to strengthen maritime co-operation and adequate surveillance of sea borders and the establishment of Rapid Border Intervention Teams.

The EU wants increased dialogue on migration with African as well as neighbouring countries. As part of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, it is seeking a ministerial meeting to discuss co-operation in migration management.

The Council looks forward to the communication, which the European Commission is preparing on the future priorities in the field of illegal immigration. The EU is also insisting on the implementation of the EU-funded AENEAS programmes to help non-member countries ensure effective management of migratory flows.

In the meantime, EU leaders urged concrete discussions on policy plans for legal migration.

External energy dependence

Another major challenge faced by the EU concerns its dependence on external energy resources. The Commission and Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council and High Representative of the Union's Foreign Policy, presented a joint paper entitled An External policy to Serve Europe's Energy Interests, which is to serve as a basis for more comprehensive EU energy policy, which faces external energy risks.

The very volatile world petroleum markets, as well as instability in the regions, which are the main source of petroleum for the EU, means that the Union has not only to seek to lessen its dependence on petroleum products but also to ensure that its external supplies are not threatened - or used to gain political leverage on it.

This table indicates the EU's external dependence on oil and gas.

The EU is promoting more energy efficiency and the development of renewable sources. The onus is on each member state to choose its own energy mix.

Slovenia joins the euro

EU leaders congratulated Slovenia for meeting all the necessary conditions for introducing the euro on January 1, 2007.

Improving EU efficiency

The Council agreed on a number of measures intended to improve the efficiency of the EU. Leaders adopted a policy of transparency for the Council of Ministers, which will be further elaborated in this report.

Subsidiarity

One of the ongoing arguments within the EU is to ensure that the EU does not attempt to do more than it has to. The principle of subsidiarity and proportionality is essential. Decisions or policies, which because of their nature and size ought to be carried out at the national, regional or city level, ought not to be transferred to the EU.

The Austrian Presidency had convened a conference on subsidiarity at St Pölten last April. Now EU leaders have urged future EU presidencies to follow up the conclusions of that conference.

National parliaments

National parliaments have a very important role in implementing EU law. Whatever is decided at the EU level is then implemented by law-making at the national level. National parliaments have to ensure that they enact proper laws, which do not attempt to do more than they have to.

National parliaments are being involved in the law-making process at an early stage and the European Commission has committed itself to make all new proposals and consultation papers directly available to national parliaments - and to invite them to react.

Thus, vigilant and efficient national parliaments have the opportunity to join the law-making process at the earliest. The Council has asked the Commission to duly take into account the comments made by the national parliaments.

National Parliaments are asked to strengthen their co-operation through the Conference of European Affairs Committees.

Reduce administrative burdens

A process called Better Regulation has been started aimed at simplifying EU laws and regulations. Member states are also urged to undertake reform programmes at the national level to reduce the administrative burden on enterprises. The Commission has been asked to report on these efforts and the Spring Council (2007) will decide on further actions.

Some member states have already decided to reduce administrative burdens by a quarter and this initiative should help boost small and medium sized enterprises, which are the backbone of the European economy.

This initiative should be taken seriously in Malta and it is up to the business organisations to continue to press government to take the necessary action.

Transparency

The first bold steps to increase the transparency of the EU have been taken. Most of the work of the EU institutions, particularly of the European Parliament, is already open to public scrutiny. The Council of Ministers is still shrouded in mystery.

Council deliberations on laws decided by the co-decision method - the most pervasive form of deciding issues - as well as the votes taken are to be made public. More transparency on the initial deliberations on legal acts is also going to be introduced.

The Council will regularly hold public debates on important issues affecting the interests of the EU and its citizens. The debate on the General Affairs Council's and External Relations Council's 18-month programme will also be made public.

All public deliberations will be transmitted in all the EU languages through video streaming and a recorded version will be available for at least a month on the Council's Website. The dates and times of the public debates will be published well in advance.

Technological innovation and EU decisions to go public are gradually making EU decisions open to public scrutiny. EU citizens are gaining more means to see what their ministers are up to when taking decisions in Brussels. Will they make use of this opportunity? We hope they will!

Fortnightly report compiled by the European Movement