Taoiseach to attend European Council in Brussels
Taoiseach to attend European Council in Brussels
The Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., will attend the European Council in Brussels on 14-15 December 2006.
The Council will begin with an exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
The main focus of the Council will be a debate on enlargement, both in terms of overall strategy where the Council will discuss the Commission’s report on the Union’s capacity to integrate new members, and in relation to individual applicant countries. The Council will welcome Romania and Bulgaria to the EU as new members with effect from 1 January 2007. On the accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia, the Council is expected to adopt the conclusions agreed by Foreign Ministers on Monday. These conclusions effectively suspend part of the negotiations with Turkey.
The Council will also focus on a number of topics within the broad area of Justice and Home Affairs, particularly migration, decision making, and Schengen. On migration, the Council is expected to strengthen the overall approach and agree on steps to be taken during 2007.
The Council is also expected to discuss other areas of ongoing work including energy, innovation and climate change.
Finally, the Council is expected to adopt conclusions on external relations, notably on the Middle East and Sudan/Darfur.
ENDS