Press Release

20/06/2000: Feira European Summit: little progress on key issues of IGC and enlargement. Hans-Gert Poettering MEP

Commenting on the outcome of the European Council in Feira, Portugal, Mr Hans-Gert Poettering, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, said:

"The European Council has made a number of decisions on individual policies but has not been able to boost progress on the Intergovernmental Conference or on the enlargement negotiations - both key issues which need to be moved forward.

"I welcome decisions on Greece's accession to the Euro, the defence force, economic guidelines, the energy market and the Charter for small and medium sized industries and other policy areas.

"However, what is absent from the conclusions of the Feira European Council is evidence of real progress on the IGC negotiations. Whilst the inclusion of 'enhanced co-operation' in the agenda of the IGC is welcome, the fact remains that the Council seems to have failed to give a badly needed boost to these vital negotiations. Institutional reform is a prerequsite for the successful accession of new Member states.

"Also the European Council has merely noted progress on the enlargement negotiations without attempting to give any shape or direction to the enlargement process - there is a real danger that this failure may well damage the image of the Union in the eyes of the people of the applicant states.

"Although the Council was not expected to deal officially with the Austrian question, I am disappointed that no progress has been made by the European Council on this issue. This situation has been counter productive in the 14 Member States and Austria and may well adversely effect the outcome of the referendum on the EURO in Denmark next September. I hope it is still possible to find a solution in the final days of the Portuguese Presidency.

"Finally the confusion on the legal status and the timetable for the adoption of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights is regrettable. I can only hope that this Charter can be successfully concluded and given the status it deserves at the Nice European Council in December next."


For further information contact: Bob Fitzhenry, phone: +32 75 493356


European Council Summits: Feira (June 2000) - Presidency Conclusions