| Author (Person) | Bower, Helen |
|---|---|
| Publisher | ProQuest Information and Learning |
| Series Title | In Focus |
| Series Details | 21.6.02 |
| Publication Date | 21/06/2002 |
| Content Type | News, Overview, Topic Guide | In Focus |
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Leaders from the Member States of the European Union gather in Seville on 21-22 June 2002 for a European Council meeting, which will mark the culmination of the Spanish Presidency. Three issues will top the agenda: the fight against illegal immigration, enlargement, and the future of the European Union although the EU leaders will also discuss the EU's external relations, in particular the Conference on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg as well as a number of economic issues. The fight against illegal immigration is likely to dominate the meeting with plans to create a common EU asylum and immigration policy expected to gain new momentum. Although EU member States appear close to reaching an agreement on the joint management of the EU's external borders, they have to agree on proposals to impose sanctions against countries of origin of illegal immigration. Spain and Britain, who favour sanctions, are expected to present a compromise at the Seville Summit which they hope will win over France who, backed by Sweden, strongly opposes sanctions. With some 50 proposals concerning immigration on the table at Seville, EU leaders are expected to take the first concrete steps towards a joint EU immigration and asylum policy since it was first discussed at the Tampere European Council in Finland in 1999. Another key issue is that of institutional reform and the future of the Council is up for debate. It is widely recognised that the Council needs to be streamlined before the EU enlarges to a possible group of 25 by 2004 and ideas include a reduction in the number of Ministerial Councils, simpler EU summits and the broadcasting of some Council meetings. Under a more radical proposal the rotating half-year EU Presidency is also likely to be reformed. While France, Spain and Britain are keen for an elected EU President the smaller Member States would prefer a more powerful European Commission. A compromise could come in the form of a team presidency, which would be changed every two and a half years. With much of the institutional reform still to be debated and decided, the definitive date for the first wave of enlargement is expected to be set at Seville but EU leaders might decide to postpone the key 2002 Enlargement Summit scheduled for October until November because some questions over the financing of enlargement remain. There is still doubt over Ireland's ratification of the Nice Treaty which is essential to the process of enlargement. But EU leaders are expected to formally agree at Seville that Ireland will not be involved in any European armed force, thus recognising Irish neutrality and hopefully securing an Irish vote in favour of ratification. Defence policy is also likely to be touched upon as the Member States seek to resolve Greece's objections against arrangements with candidate country Turkey to establish military cooperation between the EU and NATO. The EU is expected to meet Greece's demands by reasserting complete independence of its decision-making on defence. With all of this on the agenda, Seville promises to be a busy European Council when important decisions on immigration and enlargement could be taken and the future shape of the Council could be changed. The Seville Summit will also mark the end of the Spanish Presidency who hand over to Denmark on 1 July 2002. Links: Spanish Presidency of the European Union:
BBC News Online:
European Sources Online: Financial Times:
The Danish Presidency of the European Union: European Sources Online:
Helen Bower Leaders from the Member States of the European Union gathered in Seville on 21-22 June 2002 for a European Council meeting, which marked the culmination of the Spanish Presidency. Three issues topped the agenda: the fight against illegal immigration, enlargement, and the future of the European Union. |
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| Subject Categories | Justice and Home Affairs, Politics and International Relations |
