THE last few weeks were dominated by preparations for the European Council and the subsequent EU-US Summit in Washington.
European Council meetings are major political events. They, are now attended by the leaders of 26 nations and attract a host of media who are there to keep the people of Europe informed of developments within the EU.
Extensive preparations were necessary to ensure the Dublin Summit's success and I have nothing but praise for the many civil servants and the technical staff from all quarters of the civil service who were responsible for its smooth operation. This was, after all, the largest diplomatic and political event ever staged on Irish soil. Looking at it from every point of view, it was a success.
The value of the international publicity and goodwill generated by a well run Summit at the end of a successful presidency is impossible to quantify, but I believe it to be considerable. A productive presidency enhances our standing within the EU, from which we have derived such substantial benefit over the years. The kudos associated with having provided positive leadership for the EU during our presidency cannot but add to this country's reputation at a time when our economic achievements are attracting the international recognition they deserve. We will not host a European Council again for at least another seven years and it was important to do this one well.
The summit was a fitting climax to our presidency and its accomplishments on EMU, in advancing the work of the InterGovernmental Conference (IGC), in stepping up EU cooperation in the fight against organised crime and drug abuse, and in advancing the EU's agenda in the employment area have already been well aired. Rather than retracing the paths of these decisions, which have been well covered in The Irish Times, I thought I would devote this last Presidency Diary to the IGC which, some reports suggest, has failed to excite public interest.
Advancing the negotiations at the IGC has been one of the most crucial tasks of our presidency. Although this was Ireland's fifth presidency, it was the first time we had been called upon to chair an IGC. When we took over in July, negotiations were still in a preliminary phase.
At the end of our six months in the chair, we produced an outline draft Treaty and it was accepted by all member states at the Dublin European Council as a good basis for the remainder of the negotiations. The conference remains on target to conclude by the middle of next year.
The IGC is a conference of the member states convened for, the purpose of amending the EU treaties. The last IGC led to the Maastricht Treaty. The treaties are the basis on which the EU operates, the legal frame work that holds the European project together.
Presiding over the IGC is like trying to adapt Europe's constitution. It is a complex process because there are 15 countries involved whose views and interests must be reconciled.
The very first words of our outline draft Treaty are - The European Union belongs to its citizens". The current IGC has been characterised by a determination to make progress in areas which are of direct concern to citizens and to keep the public informed as the negotiations move forward.
It is a particular challenge to find ways of enabling the public to identify with what is being undertaken in their name. Following the difficulties experienced in some member states in winning public approval for the Maastricht Treaty, these negotiations have been characterised by a determination to make their outcome relevant and comprehensible to the public.
The process of explaining the IGC is not one to be reserved for the end of the conference. The Irish Government has made a particular effort, since well before the conference opened, to explain the issues to the public and to encourage debate. The presentation we chose for our outline draft Treaty involves a clear and precise explanation of the challenges which are being addressed and of the solutions that are proposed. I very much hope that the document will help significantly in the task of explaining to people throughout the EU what is at stake in the present negotiations.
In essence, the IGC is about trying to decide how the EU can operate more effectively in the future and what priorities it will pursue. Our document sets out to deal with a number of very important issues which impact very directly on people's daily lives.
People wish to live in a Union in which their fundamental rights are respected. They wish to be able to live and move freely within the Union, without fear of threats to their personal safety. In order to pursue these objectives, we are proposing that the new Treaty include strong provisions enabling the Union to take more vigorous action in the fight against international crime, including drug trafficking and crimes against children.
We have made proposals on fundamental rights and for a new clause making it possible for action to be taken to prohibit discrimination on various grounds including race, age, sex, disability and social origin. We have proposed strengthened provisions on equality between men and women.
People want the opportunity to work. We have proposed a new chapter enabling more to be done at the level of the EU to tackle unemployment. We have also included proposals to strengthen environmental protection and protection of the consumer.
Our document reflects the Union's need to have strong and effective institutions which enjoy legitimacy in the eyes of its citizens and well as comprehensible, transparent and democratic procedures.
No Treaty changes are being proposed for their own sake. We need efficient institutions, for example, and an effective and coherent external policy, not for abstract reasons but so that they can work effectively to serve the people to whom they belong.
Looking back on our presidency, I believe that we have managed to place an increased emphasis on the need for the EU to respond to the concerns of its citizens. One of the major challenges ahead is to ensure that the link between the EU and its citizens is continually strengthened.
The EU, perhaps inevitably, seems more remote from individuals than local or national events. In reality the EU is profoundly relevant to people's lives but it must do two things. It has to work harder to retain a sharp edge of relevance in a changing Europe and it has to demonstrate that relevance more effectively. The IGC offers an important opportunity for the EU to reclaim the high ground of popular appeal.