THE GERMAN government yesterday put down a strong marker for the Amsterdam EU summit in a fortnight. Its representatives indicated that Germany will fight determinedly against any suggestion of treaty provision for EU employment incentives.
Diplomatic sources at the Foreign Ministers' meeting here were also suggesting that it is increasingly unlikely that the summit will agree to any change on the shape of the Commission.
But the meeting does appear to have reached broad agreement on Dutch proposals for decision-making in Common Foreign and Security Policy these will allow for decisions by unanimity by heads of government on broad strategic positions for the Union, and the detailed implementation of such policies by foreign ministers by qualified majority.
When member-states feel a vital interest is threatened they will, however, be able to apply an emergency brake" veto on implementation, at which point the issue would return for unanimous decision to heads of government. Provisions put forward by the Irish for a system of "constructive abstention", allowing states to abstain without blocking decisions, also appear to be acceptable.
The complicated formula provides for a bridge between those who would like to see some extension of qualified majority voting in foreign policy and those insisting on retaining the veto. Each side may plausibly claim to its public to have been successful.
The German European Affairs Minister, Mr Werner Hoyer, scuppered the prospects of agreement before the summit on the new employment chapter, warning that the issue was one on which Bonn would fight to the end. It is opposed to any additional spending programmes by the Commission and regards job creation as a matter for national governments.
The chapter provides for increased co-operation between member-states with annual reporting on progress to an employment committee and the regular exchange of information on best practice. But Dutch presidency proposals also include a reference to "incentives", seen as a way of legitimising small-scale Brussels spending on pilot projects.
A number of member-states made it clear, however, that they could not accept wording that did not allow for some concrete action at Union level. Diplomats here were suggesting that agreement, will not be possible unless the scope of such spending is clearly limited in the treaty.
The meeting also struggled with the Nordic insistence that they should be allowed individually to maintain higher, or to improve, environmental standards on issues like food quality. The southern countries say that such demands represent a threat to the single market and the free circulation of goods.
The final preparations of the IGC now return to ministers' personal representatives, meeting almost on a daily basis. Ministers are likely to meet again on June 10th. The summit begins on the 16th.
Ireland was represented at the ministerial meeting on the IGC by the Tanaiste's personal representative, Mr Noel Dorr.
. The Dutch Prime Minister, Mr Wim Kok, yesterday headed for Luxembourg as part of a seven-day tour of the 15 EU capitals.
