GENERAL AFFAIRS & EXTERNAL RELATIONS COUNCIL: MINISTERS GEAR UP FOR SEPTEMBER 5-6 'GYMNICH' INFORMAL.

Inter-Governmental Conference.

For the first time since the close of the European Convention and the submission of the draft Constitutional Treaty, EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the forthcoming Inter-Governmental Conference which is due to be launched by the Presidency on October 4 at an extraordinary meeting of Heads of State and Government. On the afternoon of September 5, Council President Franco Frattini will inform his colleagues of the method chosen by the Italian Presidency, namely a short IGC prepared by Ministerial sessions which should lead to a political agreement on the future European Constitution at the December 12-13 European Council. Given that some of the small Member States meeting in Prague on September 1 challenge the short timeframe whilst all question the project's institutional chapter (see European Report 2798 for further details), Mr Frattini is expected to confirm the staging of a special European Council at the end of November to permit Heads of State and Government, in a body where consensus is required, to make final adjustments before winding up work.

More specifically, Ministers should turn their attention immediately after lunch to European Security and Defence policy. At issue: scope for introducing enhanced...