GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL: SWEDEN KEEN TO RE-LAUNCH ENLARGEMENT DEBATE AT NYKoPING.

• Position: Brief Article

The debate on enlargement will be held over a working lunch on May 5, opening the informal session. The Presidency aims to prepare the GAC debate on enlargement at the formal Council session in Brussels on May 14, notably regarding the free movement of persons, in anticipation of the next negotiation session on May 17-18. Anna Lindh plans to take the opportunity to re-launch talks on a date for the first wave of accessions. The date of January 1, 2004 has been mentioned during recent bilateral contacts. The debate on this dossier is however unlikely to further the Presidency's aims, with support expected only from the United Kingdom and Denmark. Officials suggest that pre-determining a date would be tantamount to dramatically categorising the candidates, or to admitting that accession will proceed regardless of the precise state of preparations in the candidate countries. In short, pre-determination could suggest that the first wave of enlargement may proceed without Poland or at the price of a multiplication of waivers and transition periods. Over lunch, Secretary of State Hans Dahlgren is also expected to report on Council President Goran Persson's trip to North and South Korea.The afternoon session will focus primarily on the EU's policy on human rights, an issue close to the heart of the Presidency, which aims to hold a debate on the co-ordination of Member States' diplomatic efforts to promote and defend human rights, the principles of which are now recognised in the Charter of Fundamental Rights proclaimed in Nice in December 2000. External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten is expected to present a forthcoming Commission Communication on the theme. Ministers should also debate scope for taking account of union contributions in the elaboration of their position concerning notably the defence of social rights. Joined by CFSP High Representative Javier Solana, Ministers will then exchange views on the current state of the Middle East peace process.Following a relaxed evening, Ministers will resume...