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Europaudvalget 2005-06, Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2005-06, Forsvarsudvalget 2005-06, Udenrigsudvalget 2005-06
Det Europæiske Råd 15/6-16/6 06 Bilag 8, UPN Alm.del Bilag 121, FOU Alm.del Bilag 173, URU Alm.del Bilag 207
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COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 9 June 2006

10309/06

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POLGEN 79

NOTE

from :

to :

Subject :

Presidency

Council

European Council (15 and 16 June 2006)

– Draft conclusions

The Presidency submits the following revised draft conclusions of the European Council.

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The meeting was preceded by an exposé by Mr Josep Borrell, President of the European

Parliament, followed by an exchange of views.

EUROPE LISTENS

In June 2005 the Heads of State or Government called for a period of reflection during which

a broad debate should take place in all Member States, involving citizens, civil society, social

partners, national parliaments and political parties, with the contribution of European

institutions. The European Council welcomes the various initiatives taken in the Member

States in the framework of national debates, as well as a series of events organised by the

Austrian Presidency, in particular the Conference "The Sound of Europe" in Salzburg on

27/28 January 2006. The European Council expresses its gratitude to the Commission for

having contributed to the reflection period in the context of its Plan D and to the European

Parliament for having organised together with the Austrian Parliament the joint parliamentary

meeting on the "Future of Europe" on 8/9 May 2006. The European Council welcomes the

intention of institutions and Member States to carry on their activities aimed at involving

citizens in the debate about what Europe should stand for in the 21

century. It also welcomed

the Commission's contribution "A Citizen's Agenda for Europe".

The European Council carried out a first assessment of the reflection period. This took place

on the basis of the written report prepared by the Presidency and Council Secretariat drawing

on information provided by Member States on their national debates (doc. 9701/1/06 REV 1),

the "Plan D" initiative and the White Paper on a European Communication Policy. While

worries and concerns have been voiced particularly among young people and women during

all public debates, citizens remain committed to the European project. They want to have a

say in European policy making. Reinforced dialogue with the citizens requires adequate

means and commitment. Citizens expect the Union to prove its added value by taking action

in response to the challenges and opportunities facing it: ensuring peace, prosperity and

solidarity, enhancing security, furthering sustainable development and promoting European

values in a rapidly globalising world.

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The Union's commitment to becoming more democratic, transparent and effective goes

beyond the reflection period. The European Council reaffirms its commitment to a Union that

delivers the concrete results citizens expect, in order to strengthen confidence and trust, as set

out in Part II. The European Council agreed to extend the reflection period, as set out in

Part III.

II.

EUROPE AT WORK

(a)

Promoting freedom, security and justice

Progress on measures agreed in the Hague Programme aimed at addressing problems such as

illegal immigration, trafficking of human beings, terrorism and organised crime while

guaranteeing respect for fundamental freedoms and rights will be assessed in December 2006.

In the meantime further efforts are required, particularly as concerns:



following the progress made on the Schengen Information System (SIS II) and

implementation of the

Schengen acquis

in the new Member States, rapid finalisation of

the legislative measures on

border control

and

police cooperation

and completion of

the technical preparations at EU and national levels, making operational the

Schengen

Information System

by April 2007 and the

Visa Information System

in 2007, thus

paving the way for the enlargement of the Schengen area, in accordance with the Hague

Programme;



taking work forward rapidly on the Commission's proposal concerning the

establishment of

Common Application Centres

and the collection of biometrics for the

purpose of visas and initiation of a pilot project, as well as taking work forward on a

Community code of visas;



taking work forward on

visa facilitation

and

readmission agreements

based on the

process and considerations laid down in the common approach on facilitation starting

with the countries with a European Perspective as referred to in the European Council

conclusions of June 2003 and June 2005;

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

further strengthening of practical cooperation in developing a common European

asylum

system, rapid progress on relevant proposals including the amendments to the

European Refugee Fund as well as on

Regional Protection Programmes

(Ukraine,

Moldova, Belarus, Tanzania);



achieving further progress on strengthening judicial

cooperation in

both

civil and

criminal law,

finalisation in particular of negotiations on the procedural rights of

accused persons in criminal proceedings and on the Framework Decisions on the

European Evidence Warrant, the application of the principle of mutual recognition to

the enforcement of custodial sentences and the protection of personal data;



intensifying

police cooperation,

in particular giving an increased role to

Europol

support operations;

pursuing the fight against

trafficking in human beings,

based on the EU Action Plan

and fully utilising Eurojust, Europol and the Task Force of Police Chiefs.

The European Council welcomes the "Vienna Declaration on Security Partnership" agreed by

Member States and Neighbouring countries of the EU at the Ministerial Conference in Vienna

on 4-5 May 2006, as well as the participation of the Russian Federation and the United States

of America. It takes note of the first steps made towards such a partnership, e.g. improving

cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkan countries to combat organised crime,

corruption, illegal migration and terrorism. The European Council takes note of the "Vienna

Initiative" on possible future tripartite cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs

between the EU, the Russian Federation and the United States of America and invites future

Presidencies to consider how this initiative might be taken forward. The European Council

calls for further swift implementation of the

Strategy for the external dimension of JHA,

with a view to enhancing the coordination and coherence between JHA policies and external

policies.

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In the light of the increased cooperation with third countries of origin and transit in migration

issues in particular in the regions neighbouring the Union, namely the eastern, south eastern

and Mediterranean regions, the European Council recalls the importance of a balanced and

comprehensive approach. Developing the

Global Approach to Migration

agreed in

December 2005 is a fundamental priority for the Union. Recent events reinforce this

assessment. In this context the European Council looks forward to the forthcoming report by

the Commission on the Hampton Court follow-up to migration and security to be presented at

its December 2006 meeting. In the meantime the European Council:



welcomes the concrete cooperation measures taken by the Commission, Frontex and

some Member States in the wake of recent events in the Canary Islands and in the

Mediterranean. It calls for enhanced efforts on maritime operational cooperation with a

view to developing adequate surveillance capacities at the sea borders as well as on the

establishment of Rapid Border Intervention Teams;



underlines the priority of enhancing cooperation on migration with African and

neighbouring countries and calls for a balanced dialogue on migration with African

States, regional organisations and the African Union through a pan-African conference

on migration and development;



welcomes the Euro-African Ministerial Conference in Rabat, as well as other

conferences with a specific regional focus, as steps to a regular comprehensive dialogue

with African countries as well as the launching of a EU-ACP (African, Caribbean and

Pacific) dialogue on migration (on the basis of Article 13 of the Cotonou Agreement);



recalls the Barcelona Action Plan engagement to hold a EUROMED Ministerial

Meeting on Migration Management;

looks forward to the presentation by the Commission of a communication on future

priorities in the field of illegal immigration and follow-up action;

calls on implementation of AENEAS funded projects on migration, providing financial

and technical assistance to third countries in support of their efforts to ensure more

effective management of all aspects of migration flows;



recognises the importance of the forthcoming UN High Level Dialogue on International

Migration and Development and the need for an EU common position that integrates the

development aspects of migration in a coherent manner;

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

calls for discussions to be taken forward on the Commission's Policy Plan on Legal

Migration.

The European Council calls for the implementation of the action plans agreed under the EU

Counter Terrorism

Strategy, including the strategy against radicalisation and recruitment, to

be accelerated. Work must also be sped up on the protection of critical infrastructure. The

European Council awaits the Commission's first programme in this connection as well as

concrete proposals on detection technologies. The Council and the Commission are also

invited to develop measures to combat the misuse of the internet for terrorist purposes while

respecting fundamental rights and principles.

10.

In the context of the review of the Hague Programme, the European Council calls upon the

incoming Finnish Presidency to explore, in close collaboration with the Commission, the

possibilities of improving decision-making and action in the area of Freedom, Security and

Justice on the basis of existing treaties.

11.

[The European Council welcomes the political agreement reached on the setting up of the

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

The agreement is an important sign of

the EU’s commitment to human rights. By providing advice and expertise to EU institutions

and Member States when implementing Community and Union law the Agency for

Fundamental Rights will play an important role in enhancing the coherence and consistency

of the EU human rights policy.]

12.

Improving the Union's

responsiveness to emergencies, crises and disasters

inside and

outside the Union remains a political imperative. When such emergencies occur, citizens

rightly expect a swift and effective response. While Member States are responsible for

managing emergencies on their territory or assisting their citizens abroad, the European Union

can, in a spirit of active solidarity, play a role by coordinating a political response and by

helping to organise and coordinate available assets when requested to do so.

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13.

The European Council endorses the Presidency report on "Reinforcing the Union's emergency

and crisis response capacities" (doc. 9630/1/06) which sets out the many practical steps and

decisions taken to improve coordination and delivery of available assets; to get assistance

quickly where it is needed; and to provide more effective consular protection to EU citizens in

third countries. Furthermore, the European Council welcomes the report submitted by

Michel Barnier in May 2006 as an important contribution to the debate.

14.

Building on work carried out under the Austrian Presidency, priority must now be given to:



rapid implementation of agreed steps and decisions taken as set out in the Presidency

report. These include the EU Emergency and Crisis Coordination Arrangements, which

set up an ad hoc Crisis Steering Group in Brussels and should be operational as of

1 July 2006, and the recommendations by the Secretary-General/High Representative

pertaining to the identification and coordination of Member States’ military transport

assets in support of disaster response;



exercising these procedures and capabilities and learning lessons from these exercises

and actual operational experience to improve disaster response;

the further developing the European Union’s rapid response capability based on means

that Member States make available, including civil protection modules, which should be

identified and coordinated in order to make this response efficient and capable of

ensuring a high level of protection for the European citizen;



adoption of the recast of the Community's civil protection mechanism and on the

establishment of a rapid response and preparedness instrument by the end of the year;

closer consular cooperation among EU Member States, including mutual consular

assistance points in pre-identified regions. To this end, a joint report by the Secretary-

General/High Representative and the Commission is requested in the second half of

2006.

15.

The Council is invited to take work forward on the basis of the suggestions contained in the

Presidency report, building on further input from the Commission and the

Secretary-General/High Representative. The incoming Presidency will report to the

December 2006 European Council on progress achieved across the board.

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(b)

Promoting the European way of life in a globalised world

16.

The European Council took stock of progress in several of the areas discussed at Hampton

Court and at the last Spring European Council, aimed at promoting the European way of life

in the face of globalisation and demographic trends.

17.

Sustainable development

means meeting the needs of the present generation without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is a fundamental

objective of the European Union. Sustainable development is about safeguarding the earth's

capacity to support life in all its diversity. It is based on democracy, gender equality,

solidarity, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights. While positive achievements

have been made since the Gothenburg European Council, many challenges remain. The

European Council therefore adopts an ambitious and comprehensive renewed EU Strategy for

Sustainable Development (doc. 10117/06). The implementation of this Strategy will be

closely monitored and followed up by the European Council on a regular basis.

18.

The European Council takes note of the Commission's Green Paper on a future Maritime

Policy for the Union and welcomes the launching of a broad debate.

19.

Climate change

is a global problem requiring global solutions. The European Council

therefore looks forward to a successful continuation of the discussions in the framework of

the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and under the Kyoto Protocol

to arrive at a timely post-2012 arrangement consistent with meeting the Council's objective of

a maximum global temperature increase of 2°C above pre-industrial levels. The Council will

therefore push in all relevant multilateral fora, including with all Parties to the UNFCCC, for

a full and open dialogue on future action and on agreeing an international goal. In addition,

the European Council calls on the Commission to submit without delay a report to the

European Parliament and the Council on the experience of implementing the directive

establishing a scheme for green house gas emission allowance trading within the Community,

taking into consideration the situation of SMEs, and accompanied by proposals as

appropriate.

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20.

The re-launched

Lisbon Strategy

has already been refocused on those issues of most

importance to the citizens, jobs and growth, in full coherence with the Sustainable

Development Strategy; special emphasis has been laid on investment in knowledge and

innovation, business potential, especially of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and

employment of priority categories.

21.

The European Council in particular:



welcomes the agreement reached in the Council on the

Services Directive

and calls for

a swift conclusion of the legislative process;

recalls the importance of a simple, transparent and easy-to-apply

regulatory

environment

and of strengthening consumer and business confidence in the

internal

market;



underlining the importance of the

Single Market,

welcomes the Commission's intention

to launch a general review thereof, to be followed by concrete proposals for completing

the internal market and ensuring its effective functioning; an interim report will be

presented before the March 2007 European Council;



stresses the importance of the

social dimension

of the Union's action. It welcomes the

European Commission's intention to take stock of social realities in the EU and invites

the Commission to issue an interim report before the European Council of March 2007;

the Commission, the Council and the Parliament should pay particular attention to the

social impact of European legislation, including a gender perspective, as set out in the

Pact for Gender Equality, within the integrated impact assessment;



encourages the Commission to accelerate work on the initiatives outlined in its

communication on

industrial policy

with a view to taking stock of progress in the first

half of 2007;



underlines the need for investment in

knowledge and innovation,

welcomes the final

agreement on the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme and calls for the rapid

adoption of the 7th Framework Programme, as well as the EIB risk-sharing finance

facility to support innovation and R&D;

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

calls for a follow up to the Commission's communication on the challenges ahead for

universities

and encourages the Member States to promote excellence and foster

modernisation, restructuring and innovation in the higher education sector in order to

unlock its potential and to underpin Europe's drive for more growth and jobs;



reaffirms that the

European Institute for Technology

(EIT), based on a bottom-up

approach, building on existing national institutions, will be an important step to fill the

existing gap between higher education, research and innovation together with other

actions that enhance networking and synergies between excellent research and

innovation communities in Europe. It looks forward to receiving the Commission’s

formal proposal for its establishment, to be presented in autumn 2006, following

consultation with the European Research Council, Member States and stakeholders;



stresses the importance of addressing issues of direct concern to citizens such as

food

safety and consumer protection,

and in this context welcomes the amended

Commission proposal for a decision establishing a programme of Community action in

the field of

consumer policy

(2007-2013);



emphasises the added value of joining forces in combating

rare diseases.

It welcomes

research activities in the context of the 7th Framework Programme in view of

developing preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and invites the

Commission to support the efforts of Member States by making full use of the relevant

EU instruments especially in the field of research and public health.

22.

In its conclusions of March 2006 the European Council called for an

Energy Policy for

Europe

and invited the Commission and the Council to prepare a set of actions with a clear

timetable enabling it to adopt a prioritised Action Plan at its meeting in Spring 2007.

23.

The external aspects of energy security will constitute an important part of such an overall

policy and will need to be included within the Action Plan. The European Council therefore

welcomes the joint paper by the Commission and High Representative, which is a sound basis

for an external policy conducted in a spirit of solidarity and intended to ensure reliable,

affordable and sustainable energy flows into the Union. It invites the Commission to take it

into due account when it draws up the Strategic Review. It underlines the importance of using

all the available policies and instruments to support external action in this area.

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24.

Meanwhile, since there is a continuing need for the EU to respond to the worldwide

competition for access to increasingly scarce sources of energy, the European Council invites

the Presidency, the Commission and the High Representative to take forward work on the

development and implementation of an external energy policy in a coherent and coordinated

manner. This should include the development of strategic partnerships with the main

producer, transit and consumer countries and concentrate initially on the following priorities:



invite the Commission to set out elements for further dialogue with Russia on energy;

extend the EU's internal market in energy to its neighbours (including the expansion of

the Energy Community Treaty);

make better use of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) mechanism to further the

EU's energy policy objectives;

conclude negotiations of the Energy Charter Transit protocol and secure the ratification

of the Energy Charter Treaty by all signatories to the Charter;

give full support to infrastructure projects aimed at opening up new supply routes with a

view to diversifying energy imports;

integrate the EU's energy objectives fully into its trade policy and pursue these through

the WTO, as appropriate;

pay particular importance to energy in the context of the Union's relations generally

with major third country partners.

25.

The European Council welcomes the conclusion of the Inter-Institutional Agreement on the

Financial Perspectives 2007-2013 providing the Union with the means to carry through its

policies and stresses the importance of rapidly adopting the necessary legal instruments.

26.

Dialogue is an essential element of the European way of life. This includes the dialogue with

the churches and religious communities that have their place in Europe. The European

Council therefore welcomes the meeting with leading representatives of churches and

religious communities organized by the Presidency and the European Commission in Brussels

on 30 May 2006.

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Recent events have also demonstrated the importance of a substantial dialogue between

cultures and civilizations. The European Union will continue to actively promote this dialogue

through all existing mechanisms, including the Barcelona Process and the Anna Lindh

Foundation. The European Council invites the Presidency, assisted by the Secretary

General/High Representative and the Commission to continue to look into ways of working

with partners and other international actors in the Muslim world, including the Organization

of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Arab League, to foster tolerance as well as respect

for religious and other beliefs and convictions. Particular emphasis will be given to the role

that free media and NGOs can play in this regard.

Improving the efficiency, coherence and visibility of the Union’s external policies

(c)

27.

The European Council reaffirms the commitment of the Union and the Member States to use

their substantial international influence as effectively as possible to protect and promote the

interests of their citizens. The growing challenges facing the Union make it even more

important to improve the efficiency, coherence and visibility of its external policies, as well as

the consistency between its external and its internal policies. In this regard, the European

Council welcomes the paper "Europe in the World", presented by the President of the

Commission and the internal measures being implemented by the Commission.

The European Council invites the Council, the Secretary-General/High Representative and the

Commission to examine other measures in the light of the paper “Europe in the World” with a

view to improving i.a. strategic planning, coherence between the Union's various external

policy instruments as well as cooperation between the EU institutions and between the latter

and the Member States.

The European Council agrees that a first stocktaking in relation to the implementation of these

measures will be made at the end of the Finnish Presidency.

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(d)

Improving the functioning of the Union

28.

The European Council agreed on a number of measures intended to enhance the functioning

of the Union making full use of the possibilities offered by existing treaties. This includes

opening up the work of the Council and bringing more clarity to the respective responsibilities

of the various actors in the work of the Union.

29.

Providing citizens with first hand insight into EU activities is a pre-requisite for increasing

their trust and confidence in the European Union. The European Council therefore agrees to

further open up the work of the Council and adopts an

overall policy on transparency

(Annex I). In particular, all Council deliberations under the co-decision procedure shall now

be public. It requests the Council to take the measures necessary to ensure implementation of

the new policy.

30.

In view of the importance of the principles of

subsidiarity and proportionality,

the

European Council welcomes the initiative taken by the Austrian Presidency to hold a

conference on subsidiarity in St. Pölten on 18/19 April 2006, as a follow-up to last year's

conference in The Hague. The ideas developed at these conferences should be examined and

future Presidencies are encouraged to carry this work forward.

The European Council notes the inter-dependence of the European and national legislative

processes. It therefore welcomes the Commission's commitment to make all new proposals

and consultation papers directly available to national parliaments, inviting them to react so as

to improve the process of policy formulation. The Commission is asked to take into account

comments by national parliaments – in particular with regard to the subsidiarity and

proportionality principles – to acknowledge receipt and to offer a reasoned response within an

acceptable timeframe. National parliaments are encouraged to strengthen cooperation within

the framework of the Conference of European Affairs Committees (COSAC) when

monitoring subsidiarity. Threshold values are an important example to define the principle of

subsidiarity in European legislation, notably in the area of public procurement.

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The European Council further recalls that the confidence of citizens in the European project

can benefit from European legislation reflecting more strongly the added value of EU action.

It therefore invites the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission to

draw up a standard subsidiarity and proportionality check list that shall be applied in the

European legislative process.

31.

[The European Council equally welcomes the positive outcome of discussions between the

European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the comitology reform, which will

provide for a horizontal and satisfying solution. The newly agreed provisions will enhance

scrutiny by the legislator with regard to the Commission's implementing powers in areas

subject to co-decision, thus improving the

comitology

procedures.]

32.

Progress has been made since its last meeting in all fields of

Better Regulation

and all

institutions and Member States are urged to implement their respective commitments as set

out in the 2003 Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Lawmaking. The European Council

calls on the Member States to take initiatives at national level, including through their national

reform programmes, in order to reduce administrative burdens on enterprises. It invites the

Commission to report on the progress made at national and Community levels by early 2007.

The Spring European Council should draw conclusions on further steps to be taken.

Priority should be given to reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, which pose a

significant barrier to a more innovative and knowledge-intensive economy and are

particularly detrimental to SMEs. In this context and as a first step, the European Council

looks forward to ambitious, measurable reduction targets in selected areas to be set by

early 2007, in time for the Spring European Council.

33.

The European Council welcomes:



the further embedding of the use of global

integrated impact assessments

in decision-

making in the work of all institutions as a crucial element in the policy-making process;

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

the implementation of the Commission's

programme to simplify existing legislation.

It looks forward to receiving a Commission report on implementation in the second half

of 2006 and requests that relevant Council formations give priority to specific

simplification proposals. It also stresses the importance of extending the simplification

programme to all relevant branches of the European economy;



the successful conclusion of the Commission's 2005

screening exercise

and invites the

Commission to continue to screen pending proposals.

III. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

(a)

p.m. Constitutional process

(b)

Enlargement

34.

The European Council takes note of the initial discussions on enlargement held at the

informal Foreign Ministers meeting in Salzburg on 11 March and in Klosterneuburg on

27 / 28 May 2006. It agreed to continue and deepen this general discussion during the second

half of 2006.

35.

Enlargement has proved a historic opportunity contributing to ensure peace, security, stability,

democracy, the rule of law as well as growth and prosperity in the European Union as a

whole. Enlargement is equally helping the EU to become a more competitive and dynamic

economy and be better prepared to meet the challenges of a globalised and changing world.

The European Council welcomes in this context the Commission’s report on the economic

success of the Union’s historic fifth enlargement, which will be completed with the accession

of Bulgaria and Romania.

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Bulgaria and Romania

It is the Union’s common objective to welcome Bulgaria and Romania in January 2007 as

members of the Union if they are ready. On the basis of the Commission’s Monitoring Report

of May 2006 the European Council confirms this position. While commending both countries

for the reform efforts undertaken lately, the European Council calls on Bulgaria and Romania

to rigorously step up their efforts to tackle decisively and without delay the remaining issues

of concern as mentioned in the commission’s May 2006 report. The European Council

remains convinced that, with the necessary political will, both countries can overcome the

deficits stated to reach the envisaged date of accession on 1 January 2007. It therefore

welcomes the intention of the Commission to present its next monitoring reports by early

October at the latest. It encourages Member States to complete the ratification of the

Accession Treaty on time.

36.

General questions of future enlargement

37.

With regard to enlargement the European Council emphasized that every effort should be

made to protect the cohesion and the effectiveness of the Union. It will be important to ensure

in future that the Union is able to function politically, financially and institutionally as it

enlarges, and to further deepen Europe’s common project. Therefore the European Council

will, at its meeting in December 2006, have a debate on all aspects of further enlargements,

including the Union’s capacity to absorb new members and further ways of improving the

quality of the enlargement process. It recalls in this connection that the pace of enlargement

must take the Union’s absorption capacity into account. The Commission is invited to provide

a special report covering all relevant aspects pertaining to the criterion of the Union’s

absorption capacity, at the same time as it presents its annual progress reports on enlargement

and the pre-accession process. This analysis should also cover the issue of present and future

perception of enlargement by public opinion within the Union and should take into account

the need to explain the enlargement process adequately to the public within the Union.

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Turkey

38.

The European Council reviewed progress made in the acquis screening and welcomes the start

of substantive accession negotiations with Turkey. Turkey is expected to share the values,

objectives and the legal order set out in the treaties. The Union is committed to support

Turkey in its efforts to comply with the Unions standards and membership obligations,

including the Copenhagen criteria. The European Council recalls, in line with previous

conclusions, that the current negotiations are based on each country’s own merits and that

their pace will depend on each country’s progress in preparing for accession measured against

the requirements set out in the Negotiating Framework. This includes the fulfilment of

Turkey’s obligations under the Association Agreement and under its Additional Protocol, full

implementation of which will be evaluated in 2006 as agreed in the Declaration of the

European Union and its Member States of 21 September 2005, as well as the implementation

of the revised Accession Partnership. The European Council calls on Turkey to intensify the

reform process and to implement it fully and effectively, so as to ensure its irreversibility and

sustainability as well as to progress towards the complete fulfilment of the Copenhagen

political criteria.

Croatia

39.

The European Council reviewed progress made in the acquis screening and welcomes the start

of substantive accession negotiations with Croatia. Croatia is expected to share the values,

objectives and the legal order set out in the treaties. The Union is committed to support

Croatia in its efforts to comply with the Union’s standards and membership obligations,

including the Copenhagen criteria. The European Council recalls, in line with previous

conclusions, that the current negotiations are based on each country’s own merits and that

their pace will depend on each country’s progress in preparing for accession measured against

the requirements set out in the Negotiating Framework. This includes the fulfilment of

obligations under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement as well as the implementation

of the Accession Partnership. The European Council encourages Croatia to continue its

reform efforts and to achieve sustainable progress towards the fulfilment of EU standards.

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(c)

Western Balkans

40.

The European Council reconfirmed the European perspective of the Western Balkans as set

out in the Stabilisation and Association Process, the Thessaloniki Agenda and the Salzburg

Declaration of March 2006. In this respect, the European Council confirmed that the future of

the Western Balkans lies in the European Union. Each country’s progress towards the

European Union will continue to depend on individual merits in meeting the conditions and

requirements set forth in the Copenhagen criteria and in the Stabilisation and Association

Process, including full cooperation with the ICTY. All Western Balkan countries have in the

last year made significant steps along their road towards the EU, with EU membership as

ultimate goal in conformity with the Thessaloniki Agenda. The Council welcomed the initial

progress made in the implementation of the Commission’s Communication “The Western

Balkans on the Road to the EU: consolidation stability and raising prosperity”. The European

Union will continue assisting the Western Balkan countries through practical measures to

make the European perspective more tangible and is looking forward to concrete results in the

near future notably in areas such as regional free trade and visa facilitation in line with the

common approach. The Council requests the Commission and the European Investment Bank

to put forward proposals for a joint EU budget - EIB Group finance facility for the Western

Balkans.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

41.

The European Council reiterates the importance it attaches to the

European Neighbourhood

Policy

as a means to strengthen cooperation with its neighbours and expand prosperity,

stability and security beyond the borders of the European Union. The European

Neighbourhood Policy seeks to support the political and economic reforms of neighbouring

countries on the basis of partnership and building on shared values. The Union is determined

to strengthen and further develop its Neighbourhood Policy, thus offering an increasingly

close relationship and substantial support, as neighbouring countries fulfil their commitments

to reform.

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42.

The European Council attaches great importance to a fruitful co-operation between the

European Union and the

Council of Europe

and encourages them to overcome the remaining

difficulties in the ongoing negotiations on a memorandum of understanding. It expresses its

appreciation to Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker for his report on the future relations

between the Council of Europe and the European Union, which deserves further

consideration.

43.

The European Council adopted declarations on the

Western Balkans

(Annex II),

Iran

(Annex III),

Iraq

(Annex IV), the

Middle East Peace Process

(Annex V),

Africa

(Annex VI) and

Lebanon

(Annex VII).

44.

The European Council endorses the Presidency report on

ESDP

(doc. XXX), which

comprises the mandate for the incoming Presidency.

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ANNEX I

AN OVERALL POLICY ON TRANSPARENCY

With a view to further increase openness, transparency and accountability, the European Council

agrees on the following measures aiming at a stronger involvement of citizens in the work of the

Union:



All Council deliberations on legislative acts to be adopted by co-decision shall be open to the

public as shall the votes and the explanation of votes by Council Members. The Council or

Coreper may decide in individual cases that a given deliberation should not be open to the

public.



The Council's first deliberations on legislative acts other than those adopted by co-decision,

which given their importance are presented orally by the Commission in a Council session,

shall be open to the public. The Presidency may decide in individual cases that the Council's

subsequent deliberations on a particular act shall be open to the public, unless the Council or

Coreper decide otherwise.



The Council shall regularly hold public debates on important issues affecting the interests of

the Union and its citizens. Such debates will be held further to a decision by the Council or

Coreper, acting by qualified majority. Implementation of this commitment shall start during

the incoming Presidency, which would submit proposals for such public debates taking into

account the importance of the matter and its interest to citizens.



The General Affairs and External Relations Council's deliberations on the 18 month

programme shall be public, as shall other Council formations' deliberations on their priorities.

The Commission's presentation of its five year programme, of its annual work programme and

of its annual policy strategy, as well as the ensuing debate, shall be public.

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

All public deliberations shall be broadcasted in all languages through video-streaming and

there shall be an obligation for a recorded version to remain available for at least a month on

the Council's internet site.



The incoming Presidency is invited, together with the General Secretariat of the Council, to

develop new means of giving more publicity to public deliberations, in particular through the

Council's web site and mailing list, an easily accessible and constantly updated list of

forthcoming debates, appropriate background material, as well as direct communication to

target audiences. They will work closely together to provide the media and citizens with an

open, rapid and technically advanced communication service.



The General Secretariat of the Council shall inform the public in advance of the dates and

approximate time on which public debates will take place and shall take all practical measures

to ensure proper implementation of the rules of transparency.

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ANNEX II

Draft Declaration on the Western Balkans

The European Council reaffirmed its full support for the agenda set out at the Thessaloniki Summit

in 2003 and for the Stabilisation and Association Process.

A peaceful and prosperous Serbia fully integrated into the family of European nations is very

important for the stability in the region. The European Council, therefore, recalls that the European

Union is willing to resume negotiations with Serbia on a Stabilization and Association Agreement

as soon as full cooperation of Serbia with the ICTY is achieved.

The Union maintains its support to the ongoing talks about the future status of Kosovo led by UN

Envoy Martti Ahtisaari. It calls on all parties to engage constructively in the status process and

recalls the crucial importance of moving forward on the implementation of standards in Kosovo. In

close consultation with key international actors, the European Union stands ready to enhance its

role in Kosovo following a status determination, in particular in the areas of police, rule of law and

the economy.

The European Union and its Member States have already agreed to develop their relations with

Montenegro as a sovereign, independent State. The European Council calls on both Serbia and

Montenegro to pursue a direct and constructive dialogue on their future relations.

The European Union will continue to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in ensuring stability and

progress on key reforms. It urges the Bosnian authorities to ensure real and tangible progress in the

implementation of police reform in order to maintain momentum in the Stabilisation and

Association Process. The European Council underlines the importance of proceeding with

constitutional reform.

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The European Council calls on all parties in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to ensure

that the parliamentary elections on 5 July are conducted in line with international standards.

The European Council welcomes the signature of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with

Albania and calls on Albania to push ahead with its reform agenda.

The European Council strongly encourages regional cooperation including through the South East

European Cooperation Process (SEECP). It welcomes the initiative for a regional free-trade area

launched in Bucharest on 6 April, as well as the signing of the agreement on a European Common

Aviation Area with the countries of the region on 9 June, and progress made in the ratification

process of the Energy Community Treaty for South-East Europe.

The European Union will continue to back its policies for the Western Balkans with commensurate

financial assistance, particularly through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance to be

introduced next year.

The European Council is conscious that the question of visa facilitation is particularly important for

the people of the countries of the region. The European Union therefore hopes to adopt negotiation

mandates for visa facilitation and readmission agreements in the course of this year, in line with the

common approach to the development of the EU policy on visa facilitation agreed in December

2005, so that negotiations can be concluded as soon as possible, ideally in 2007.

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ANNEX III

Draft Declaration on Iran

The European Council underlines the importance of the understandings reached among the EU

High Representative, the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and China,

the Russian Federation and the United States in Vienna on 1 June 2006. These understandings offer

the chance for a negotiated agreement with Iran based on a cooperative approach. The European

Council gives its full support to the balanced approach incorporated in the Vienna understandings.

The European Council welcomes the contact between the EU High Representative supported by

representatives of France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom and Iranian authorities in

Tehran on 6 June, and the constructive atmosphere in which this took place. The European Council

urges Iran to respond positively to this far-reaching initiative.

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ANNEX IV

Draft Declaration on Iraq

The European Council welcomes the formation of the new Iraqi national unity government on 20

May, now completed with the appointment of Ministers of Defence, Interior and National Security.

This is a major and important step continuing the transformation of Iraq into a democratic country.

The European Union reiterates its strong condemnation of terrorist acts and deplores the continuing

campaign of violence against the Iraqi people and their constitutionally elected government. It calls

on all Iraqi citizens to avoid sectarian strife and refrain from using violence, prolonging the

suffering of the Iraqi people. The European Union stands ready to renew its engagement with the

new Iraqi government and Iraqi citizens in their efforts to bring peace, stability and prosperity to an

independent and sovereign Iraq.

The European Council welcomes the new government's programme for its commitment to

upholding the rule of law, promoting national unity and reconciliation, protecting and developing

Iraq's resources and using them for the benefit of all the Iraqi people.

The European Union looks forward to rapid and early political dialogue with the new government.

The European Council welcomes the Commission Communication and the joint letter from SG/HR

Solana and Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner. The European Council looks forward to pursuing

enhanced engagement with the new government at all relevant levels. For example, it is the EU's

intention to support Iraq in the following areas:



Endorse a model of democratic government that overcomes divisions, e.g. through support to

national reconciliation and the constitutional review process in close cooperation with the UN.

In this context, the European Council welcomed the United Nations Multi-Party Dialogue on

the Iraqi bill of rights in Vienna from 6 to 8 June.

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

Contribute towards the rule of law and a culture of respect for human rights, e.g. through

Community assistance in these areas. In this context, the European Council notes the

agreement to extend the Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq, EUJUST LEX, for another

18 months after the expiration of the current mandate in response to Iraqi needs and requests.



Support national and regional authorities in improving the delivery of basic services and in

promoting job creation.



Support Iraq’s economic recovery and prosperity, e.g. by launching the negotiations of a

Trade and Cooperation Agreement and by commencing a technical dialogue on energy.



Promote the development of an effective and transparent administrative framework.

Stepping up its presence in Iraq through the imminent appointment of the Head of the

European Commission Delegation in Iraq.

The European Council encourages enhanced international engagement and underlines the EU's

willingness to continue supporting the UN's role in Iraq.

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ANNEX V

Draft Declaration on the Middle East Peace Process

The European Union remains committed to working within the Quartet towards the goal of a just,

viable and lasting solution based on existing agreements, the relevant UNSC resolutions and the

principles laid down in the Roadmap.

In view of the urgent need to re-launch the process towards a negotiated two-state solution which

would bring peace to both the Israeli and the Palestinian people, the European Council calls for an

early engagement between the Israeli Prime Minister and the President of the Palestinian Authority,

who was elected on a platform of peace. It reiterates its expectations from both parties to respect

existing agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap.

As set out by the Quartet, the Hamas-led Palestinian Government needs to meet and implement the

three principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel’s right to exist and acceptance of existing

agreements and obligations.

The European Council remains concerned by the security situation in Gaza and the West Bank. It

calls on all parties to exercise restraint and calls on the Palestinian Authority to take action to

improve security and prevent terrorist attacks on Israel.

The European Council welcomes the efforts by the main Palestinian political forces to engage in a

national dialogue aimed primarily at putting an end to inter-Palestinian confrontation and

establishing law and order. It calls on the Palestinian government to cooperate with the President of

the Palestinian Authority to achieve this, including through the disarmament of groups engaged in

violence and terror.

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The European Council calls on Israel to desist from any action that threatens the viability of an

agreed two-state solution and from acts that are contrary to international law. Of particular concern

are settlement activities, the construction of the barrier on Palestinian land and activities in and

around East Jerusalem as well as in the Jordan Valley. The European Union will not recognize any

change to the pre-1967 borders other than those agreed to by both sides.

The European Council urges Israel to resume transfers of withheld Palestinian tax and customs

revenues which are essential in averting a crisis in the Palestinian territories.

The European Council stresses the need for a coordinated international response to the deterioration

of the humanitarian, economic and financial situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The European Council endorses the proposal for a temporary international mechanism to channel

assistance directly to the Palestinian people, which has been drawn up by the Commission

following consultations within the EU as well as with Quartet members, major donors,

international financial institutions and partners in the region. The European Council appreciates

the Commission’s work so far and requests it to continue urgently establishing the mechanism, in

conjunction with key international partners and the PA President’s Office.

The European Council agrees that, in order to achieve an immediate impact, the mechanism will

focus on essential supplies and running costs for social services and health, supply of utilities

including fuel, and social allowances. Other donors, including Arab states, are invited to provide

funding and to consider early and substantial contributions. The Community stands ready to

contribute a substantial amount to the international mechanism.

It furthermore underlines the importance of freedom of movement and urges both parties to take

concrete steps to implement their obligations under the Agreement on Movement and Access, in

order to alleviate the worsening situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Language on TIM to be reviewed in light of discussion by Ministers on 12 June

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The European Council reiterates the importance of preserving and pursuing the democratic

functioning of the institutions of the Palestinian Authority whose continuity is crucial for a future

independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state based on the rule of law.

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ANNEX VI

Draft Declaration on Africa

The European Union remains committed to contribute to the African efforts to achieve the

Millennium Development Goals, with a view to making the African continent stable and

prosperous, laying emphasis on the principles of partnership, responsibility and ownership, good

governance, rule of law and respect for human rights. In this context, it reiterates the importance of

enhanced EU-Africa Political Dialogue, including holding a second EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon as

soon as possible. The EU is implementing the Africa Strategy adopted in December 2005 as the

comprehensive framework of its activities, and will continue its efforts to transform the EU Strategy

for Africa into a Joint Strategy. The strategy puts particular emphasis on the EU's engagement for

peace and security in Africa, as a basis for lasting development, as well as regional and economic

integration and development assistance provided to the African partner countries. In this context,

the EU welcomes the decision taken by the EU and the ACP partners at the Joint Council of

Ministers on 2 June regarding the Financial Protocol for 10

EDF (European Development Fund,

covering 2008-2013) and has decided on a short-term replenishment of the funds available under

the African Peace Facility and to continue this instrument in the period 2008 to 2010. The EU

reiterates furthermore its support to the Economic Partnership Agreements as instruments for

development, aiming at enhanced regional economic integration and contributing to reducing

poverty in the ACP countries. In addition, the EU stresses the importance of current and future

initiatives to put in place an EU-Africa partnership on migration and development. The EU also

recalls the importance of the conclusion of ambitious action plans, in the framework of the

European Neighbourhood Policy, with its Mediterranean partners.

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In Sudan, the EU will work for the full and rapid implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement

(DPA) as a precondition for lasting peace and security in Darfur and an end to the suffering of

millions of people in Darfur. The EU continues to be deeply concerned by the situation of human

rights in Darfur and calls upon the government in Khartoum to end impunity by bringing the

perpetrators to justice for crimes committed in Darfur and to stop the violence against internally

displaced persons, especially sexual violence against women and girls. Together with other

partners in the international community, the EU will continue to provide support to the African

Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), taking into account the new tasks arising from the DPA, and the

need to ensure a smooth transition to a UN led operation in Darfur.

The EU calls upon all political forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to continue

pursuing their path of peaceful and democratic change in the run-up of the elections, starting on

July 30. Building on the EU's longstanding engagement in the DRC, the EU will deploy the

military operation EUFOR RD Congo, in response to a request from the United Nations, designed

to provide support to MONUC in certain situations. For the same purpose, the EU’s police mission

in Kinshasa (EUPOL Kinshasa) will be reinforced. The EU will continue to support the ongoing

Security Sector Reform through its mission EUSEC RDC, as well as new initiatives to ensure good

governance, transparency and a sound post-transition and reconstruction strategy. The ongoing

process of securing regional stability through the early holding of the second Summit of the Great

Lakes Conference has the full support of the EU.

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ANNEX VII

Draft Declaration on Lebanon

The European Council reaffirms the importance it attaches to the sovereignty, territorial integrity,

unity and independence of Lebanon and reiterates its call for Security Council Resolution 1559 to

be implemented in full. It welcomes the adoption of Resolution 1680 and calls for its full

implementation, particularly as regards the delineation of the Syrian-Lebanese border. In this

context, it calls upon Syria to grasp the hand offered by the Lebanese government following the

agreements emerging from the Lebanese national dialogue. It is pleased that this national dialogue

has been opened and encourages the parties to continue it.

The European Council reaffirms its full support for the work of the International Independent

Investigation Commission into the assassination of Rafik Hariri and his escort, and for the action of

its head, Mr Serge Brammertz. It welcomes the Investigation Commission's fourth interim report,

takes note of its conclusions and renews its call for all parties to cooperate fully with the

Commission.

The European Council welcomes the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1664 and expresses

the hope that negotiations will progress rapidly with a view to the actual setting up of the

international tribunal provided for in that Resolution.

The European Council strongly condemns the serious incidents which took place on the Blue Line

around 28 May, appeals to all parties to exercise restraint and reminds them of their obligation to

strictly respect the Blue Line, including the respective airspaces. The European Council stresses

once again the need for the Lebanese State to restore its sovereignty over the whole of its national

territory and to exercise the sole right to the use of force on that territory.

The European Council reaffirms its support for the Lebanese government and urges it to undertake

the economic and political reforms agreed, so that the international conference to support Lebanon

can be held as soon as possible. The implementation of the action plan concluded in the framework

of the European Neighbourhood Policy will assist the reform process in the country.

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