The six months’ Irish Presidency of the European Council ends in Brussels today, 18 June, with the Summit of the Heads of State and of Government. Holland will assume the revolving Presidency on 1st July. There is a chance that the Council will reach an agreement on the draft Constitutional Treaty during the present summit. Apart from the question of the Constitution and the repercussions of the recent elections for the renewal of the European Parliament there are seven fundamental points on the agenda: Nominations the Council is called to propose a candidate to succeed Romano Prodi as President of the European Commission, and to designate the General Secretary of the Council/High Representative for Foreign Policy. Both nominations, however, could be deferred for a few weeks to an extraordinary Summit; Security it is expected that the package of measures on freedom, security and justice proposed by the European Commission and amended by the European Parliament will be formally adopted; Terrorism the go-ahead is expected to be given to the setting up within the EU institutions of a “cell” to coordinate the activities of intelligence linked to the fight against international terrorism; Enlargement the Council will review membership negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania, indicate a probable date for the start of negotiations for the entry of Croatia and analyse the progress made by Turkey in the sector of institutional reforms; Financial prospects the delicate question of the future funding of the Union remains open, especially in the light of the necessary costs to support enlargement; Employment and economic affairs a document on the Lisbon Strategy is awaited, accompanied by the adoption of guidelines for employment for 2004; Foreign policy the Summit will tackle the questions of the European Security Strategy, progress in Security and Defence Policy, partnership with the countries of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, the new relations with Iraq (see the fact file below), the prevention of violent conflicts, and the so-called European Neighbourhood Strategy, still awaiting formal approval.
