The Luxembourg Presidency of Council drew to a close with a warm welcome from MEPs for launching the jobs initiative, and a date being fixed for the start of the enlargement negotiations. Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jacques Poos warned that ahead lay the major challenges of carrying out institutional reform and revamping the EU's budget. Preliminary agreement will not be easy, and it now falls to the British Presidency to pursue these issues. Luxembourg's Prime Minister, JeanClaude Juncker, acknowledged that there were differences in Council on the scale of institutional reforms needed to take a larger EU into the next century. On the one hand some countries supported a thorough reform, while others favoured only tinkering with the present system.
Outlining developments over the past six months, Mr Poos welcomed the participation of the UK in the Social Charter and the ensuing adoption of the directives relating to parental leave and worker information. Progress had also been made in other areas, such as opening up the gas and electricity markets. While further developments had taken place in road transport, decisions still had to be taken on working hours and rest periods for drivers. The new European Voluntary Service overseas programme was also set to be launched.
Mr Poos also expressed satisfaction with improvements in relations between Council and Parliament. The Presidency had been willing to appear before Parliament's committees and to pursue successful negotiation with Parliament through the conciliation procedure. No less than 10 agreements had been concluded, he said, a new record. He then emphasised the importance he attached to involving Parliament in the decisions to be taken over economic and monetary union, and in particular over which countries will take part in the single currency.
The British Presidency has already been launched with a commitment from Prime Minister Tony Blair to ensure that the EU concentrates on the priorities of enlargement, introducing a single currency, jobs, peace, crime and the environment. The British government is committed to economic reform with a view to making Europe's industry more competitive and innovative, through improving the working of the single market and encouraging private investment in jobs and training.
The UK government is committed to a successful launch of the single currency in 1999, irrespective of whether or not the UK joins. It suggests a stronger EU role to combat crime through EUROPOL, and an effective European environmental policy. On foreign affairs, it is in favour of improving co-ordination to enable the EU to respond quickly to world events. A code of conduct for arms exports and more concern for human rights are other priorities.
Further information on this and on most other events can be found on the Presidency Website at: http://presid.fco.gov.uk/.