Greater effectiveness

The summit of EU heads of government and Statec,held in Brussels on June 19-20, confirmed doubts, stands and uncertainties which had been expressed the previous days. The “no” to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, expressed by Irish voters in the referendum, was the major issue debated during the summit, marking the works and the final statement.Treaty, more time is needed. It will be re-discussed in October. “We acknowledged Ireland’s ‘no’ to the Lisbon Treaty”, Slovenian premier Janez Jansa explained during the press conference marking the conclusion of his Country’s Presidency-in-office. “We respect the democratic stand expressed by Ireland. However, we decided to continue with the ratification in the other seven Countries which haven’t concluded it yet”. Having ruled out all possibilities of renegotiating the Treaty, the Twenty-seven established that “more time is needed for institutional issues”, and therefore the topic will be addressed in the summit of October 15, under the French presidency. “At the same time – Jansa added – we agreed that we must continue addressing the concrete problems affecting citizens. In fact, a series of different operative decisions have been proposed”. As relates to the Treaty, it was agreed that the Czech Republic will provide for its ratification “only after the Constitutional Court’s ruling regarding its compatibility” with the national legal framework. “We are ready to ratify the Treaty only after the green light from the Court”, claimed Czech premier Mirek Topolanek. The unforeseen in the past months. “Today we reached a positive agreement, it’s a step forward” for Europe. Janez Jansa drew a balance of his semester holding presidency office. He voiced his satisfaction regarding results. “Although for us this was completely new, since we were the first recently-entered Country to guide the Union. It was a great challenge for me, I think it is for all Countries. We also had to face a series of unexpected events”. He listed Ireland’s opposition to the Treaty, price escalation and “the problem of Western Balkans”. Lubiana’s head of government then focused on the topic of inflation. “We have sought short, medium and long term solutions, and the Commission was given mandate to define an intervention scheme. However, these issues can’t be solved in a hurry. As relates to energy for example, we need to act not only as relates to gas and oil supply, but we also need to focus on energy-saving, centering on sustainable sources and seeking new technologies”. Lastly, the green light to Slovakia’s entry in the euro-zone was described as “a positive sign. It means that the EU works and continues its path”. Aid to families and the Technology Institute. “The Irish asked more time” to dedicate to the ratification of the Reform Treaty “and they will get it”. José Manuel Barroso was one of the protagonists of the summit. However, in his remarks on the outcome of the summit, he devoted less attention to institutional knots, and preferred to dwell into “concrete issues”. Firstly, oil and food prices: “We will step up the programme which is already operative and which envisages food aid to EU families and people in need. Fishermen have been indicated as possible aid recipients too”, especially as relates to the purchase of fuel for fishing vessels. “The same goes for farmers” who rallied in the streets of Brussels in the previous days. “We don’t have immediate solutions to all the problems”, Barroso pointed out, since “structural changes are needed”. The head of the Executive expressed his satisfation “since the last step has been taken to ensure the performance of the European Institute of Technology, whose main offices will be located in Budapest and whose inauguration is expected to take place next September”. A solution before European elections. The document with the summit’s conclusions consists of 24 pages. The first chapter is devoted to the process for the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Follow chapters on justice and security, on prices, environmental issues and the Western Balkans. Under the voice “foreign relations” there are paragraphs devoted to the Millennium objectives, euro-Mediterranean policy and the situation of Cuba. To this regard, Slovenian foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel, affirmed: “We sent an encouraging message to Cuba”, revocating the sanctions enacted until today”. However, “we will ensure that a true transition process ensues”. At the end of the meeting of the 27, all leaders commented the results. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, next EU president-in-office, confirmed: “Ratifications of the Lisbon Treaty must continue”. “We will take stock of the Treaty at the summit which will be held in mid-October”, he added. “A solution must in any case be found before the Euro-parliament elections in June 2009”, he remarked.