INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE: SILVIO BERLUSCONI PLEDGES TO SECURE INSTITUTIONAL COMPROMISE IN DECEMBER.

Silvio Berlusconi avoided any further affront to European Commission President Romano Prodi following the lapses in protocol on the launch of the IGC in Rome (see European Report 2809 for further details). On the contrary, the Italian Prime Minister was highly attentive, even joking with his potential domestic political rival, though his pleasantries retaining a cutting edge against the Commission President. The Council President proposes to build a compromise on the basis of such strong personal relations and will seek with his Foreign Minister Franco Frattini to draw up a text before mid-November, notably by stepping up bilateral contacts. "The compromise we present will not be a middle line but on the contrary an eminent and entirely noble project permitting the EU to take decisions and punch its weight in the international arena."

This compromise is indeed only likely to concern Part I (Institutional Architecture) of the draft Constitutional Treaty presented by the Convention, the Presidency appearing to consider that the institutional provisions of Part I on the implementation of common policies outlined in Part III are, in Mr Berlusconi's own words "details" that do not merit in-depth examination by the IGC. Council and Commission legal advisors on Part III will set to work on October 20 to fine tune the text, experts agreeing that barring a few exceptions, notably on European security and defence policy, no political arbitration is likely to prove necessary. Under these conditions, it would appear that the extension of the scope for qualified majority voting anticipated by the Convention will not be challenged, though at the same time no further extension will be possible.

Mr Berlusconi's pledge to wrap up negotiations by December 13 convinced French President Jacques Chirac, who applauded the Presidency's approach. "The Presidency has skilfully conducted a difficult exercise since managing a meeting with so many participants is tricky and requires a delicate touch, an Italian quality, but also a great deal of determination", said Mr Chirac. Silvio Berlusconi cut the time allowed for leaders to speak. "I asked them to stop thanking me as that wastes too much time, and to indicate what they disagree with rather than what they agree to" he indicated. France and Germany also bought the Presidency some extra time when Jacques Chirac and Chancellor Gerhard Schroder skipped part of the October 16 session for a video-conference with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in order to co-ordinate their position in advance of the United Nations Security Council's vote on a new American Resolution on Iraq. They delegated the defence of their views to the Benelux countries. On October 17, the forced absence of the German Chancellor, attending a crucial vote on social reforms at the Bundestag, saw Mr Schroder represented by the French President. "I did not replace Mr Schroder, he asked me to pass on his remarks on the conclusions of the European Council which was easy since my observations were identical", Mr Chirac explained. The French President was flanked by Mr Schroder's policy advisor Reinhard...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT