European Council, Thessaloniki, 19-20 June 2003

The Greek Presidency of the EU reached its high point with a meeting of the European Council in the resort of Porto Carras, near Thessaloniki. Spanning 19 and 20 June 2003, the meeting rolled over into an EU-Western Balkans Summit on 21 June.

In the traditional address from the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, congratulated the Convention on the Future of Europe on producing a draft EU Constitution "which is clear, which is balanced, which is based on a single option, and which could work - the ultimate vindication of Parliament's belief in the Convention method as an open, inclusive participatory and democratic preparation for an Intergovernmental Conference." He also stressed the need for the Union to "make progress now on the complex and related issues of immigration, frontiers and asylum", calling for the Commission to be given 'a broad mandate to launch a series of initiatives in the months ahead', with leaders setting May 2004 as the date by which they must reach agreement on those issues.

The Presidency Conclusions issued after the meeting are divided into the following main sections:

I - Convention / IGC
The European Council also welcomed the Draft Constitutional Treaty, saying that it "marks a historic step in the direction of furthering the objectives of European integration:

• bringing our Union closer to its citizens,
• strengthening our Union's democratic character,
• facilitating our Union's capacity to make decisions, especially after its enlargement,
• enhancing our Union's ability to act as a coherent and unified force in the international system and
• effectively deal with the challenges globalisation and interdependence create."

The formal presentation of the draft effectively marked the end of the Convention's work. The European Council asked the incoming Italian Presidency to convene an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) in October 2003, stressing that the IGC "should complete its work and agree the Constitutional Treaty as soon as possible and in time for it to become known to European citizens before the June 2004 elections for the European Parliament."

II - immigration, frontiers and asylum
Leaders invited the Commission to present an Annual Report on Migration and Integration in Europe, in order to "help develop and promote policy initiatives for more effective management of migration in Europe." A UK proposal to establish "zones of protection" for refugees near to their place of origin reportedly received little support.

III - enlargement
The European Council encouraged the 10 Acceding States to "keep up their efforts" over the forthcoming months, "so that they are fully prepared to assume the obligations of membership" when they join the Union in May 2004.

IV - Cyprus
The imminent accession of Cyprus to the EU "is already creating favourable conditions for the two communities to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem" stated the Presidency Conclusions.

V - Western Balkans
Ahead of the Summit with the countries of the Western Balkans, EU leaders spoke of their "determination to fully and effectively support the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, which will become an integral part of the EU, once they meet the established criteria."

VI - Wider Europe / New neighbourhood

VII - follow-up of the 2003 Spring European Council
Participants agree that Jean-Claude Trichet should become the next President of the European Central Bank.

VIII - External relations, CFSP and ESDP
Amongst the items enumerated were the Union's proposed Security Strategy, a declaration on weapons of mass destruction, and instructions to the Council of the EU to make preparations for the creation of an "agency in the field of defence capabilities", which "will aim at developing defence capabilities in the field of crisis management, promoting and enhancing European armaments cooperation, strengthening the European defence industrial and technological base and creating a competitive European defence equipment market, as well as promoting, in liaison with the Community's research activities where appropriate, research aimed at leadership in strategic technologies for future defence and security capabilities, thereby strengthening Europe's industrial potential in this domain."

Leaders also discussed relations with the Arab world, with the Conclusions recording their conviction that the Union "must strengthen its partnership with the Arab world" and "intends to promote a closer political dialogue, pluralism and democratic reform, economic and social development. The dialogue between cultures, religions and civilisations should be stepped up."

Other external relations items included "Green Diplomacy" (the European Council reaffirmed "its commitment to integrate the environment into external relations by promoting a European diplomacy on environment and sustainable development."), the situation in the Middle East and relations with Iraq, Iran, North Korea, East Timor, Burma, Cuba, Central Africa.

The Summit with the countries of the Western Balkans (Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia, Macedonia, Croatia and Albania) reiterated the Union's desire for them to seek EU membership.

Links:

Council of the European Union:
	Presidency Conclusions: Thessaloniki European Council. 19 and 20 June 2003
European Commission:
	Thessaloniki European Council [portal]
	18.06.03:	Romano Prodi: Thessaloniki European Council [SPEECH/03/311]
European Parliament:
	19.06.03:	Pat Cox: European Council in Thessaloniki
BBC News Online:
	20.06.03:	Cool debate in Thessaloniki heat
	18.06.03:	Analysis: EU constitution creeps closer
	20.06.03:	Balkans face long EU haul
European Sources Online: Financial Times:
	21.06.03:	Sweltering end to EU summit in Greece
	21.06.03:	Big powers back more muscular foreign policy
	21.06.03:	Leaders back away from Aids pledge
	21.06.03:	Agricultural reforms facing uncertain future
	23.06.03:	Support for talks on splitting Serbia, Kosovo
European Policy Centre:
	22.06.03:	The Porto Carras Summit - Preparing for a new and even bigger Union

Eric Davies
Researcher
Compiled: Monday, 23 June 2003

Background and reporting on the week's main stories in the European Union and the wider Europe.