& Brussels, 17 May 1999 8016/99 (Presse 146) WK&RXQFLOPHHWLQJ *(1(5$/$))$,56 %UXVVHOV0D\ Presidents: 0U-RVFKND),6&+(5 Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Federal Chancellor of Germany 0U*QWHU9(5+(8*(1 Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany &217(176 3$57,&,3$176 ,7(06'(%$7(' EU CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS COMMON EUROPEAN POLICY ON SECURITY AND DEFENSE RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA COMMON STRATEGY SECOND MEETING OF THE COOPERATION COUNCIL EU / US RELATIONS - HORMONES DISPUTE ACTION PLAN FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF CENTRAL AMERICA - CONCLUSIONS WESTERN BALKANS KOSOVO - CONCLUSIONS COMMON POSITION CONCERNING THE LAUNCHING OF THE STABILITY PACT OF THE EU ON SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT WITH EGYPT - STATE OF NEGOTIATIONS EAST TIMOR BELARUS - COUNCIL DECLARATION ,7(06$33529(':,7+287'(%$7( (;7(51$/5(/$7,216 − Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) − Nigeria - lifting of remaining sanctions − Enlargement − EEA Council 75$'( − Malta - trade in textiles − Cyprus - imports of grape juice and must 6&+(1*(1 − Agreement with Iceland and Norway on Schengen $332,170(17 − Committee of the Regions 75$163$5(1&< − Public access to Council documents )RUIXUWKHULQIRUPDWLRQFDOO 3$57,&,3$176 The Governments of the Member States and the European Commission were represented as follows: %HOJLXP Mr Erik DERYCKE Minister for Foreign Affairs 'HQPDUN Mr Niels HELVEG PETERSEN Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Friis Arne PETERSEN State Secretary for Foreign Affairs *HUPDQ\ Mr Joschka FISCHER Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Federal Mr Günter VERHEUGEN Chancellor Minister of State, Foreign Affairs *UHHFH Mr Giorgos PAPANDREOU Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Giannos KRANIDIOTIS Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs 6SDLQ Mr Abel MATUTES Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Ramón de MIGUEL State Secretary for Foreign Policy and the European Union )UDQFH Mr Hubert VEDRINE Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Pierre MOSCOVICI Minister attached to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European affairs ,UHODQG Mr David ANDREWS Minister for Foreign Affairs ,WDO\ Mr Lamberto DINI Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Umberto RANIERI State Secretary for Foreign Affairs /X[HPERXUJ Mr Jacques POOS Minister for Foreign Affairs 1HWKHUODQGV Mr Jozias VAN AARTSEN Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Dick BENSCHOP State Secretary for Foreign Affairs $XVWULD Mr Wolfgang SCHÜSSEL Minister for Foreign Affairs 3RUWXJDO Mr Jaime GAMA Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Francisco SEIXAS da COSTA State Secretary for European Affairs )LQODQG Ms Tarja HALONEN Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Kimmo SASI Minister of Foreign Trade 6ZHGHQ Ms Anna LINDH Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Gunnar LUND State Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs 8QLWHG.LQJGRP Mr Robin COOK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Ms Joyce QUIN Affairs Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office &RPPLVVLRQ Mr Jacques SANTER President Sir Leon BRITTAN Vice-President Mr Manuel MARIN Vice-President Mr Hans VAN DEN BROEK Member *HQHUDO6HFUHWDULDWRIWKH&RXQFLO Mr Jürgen TRUMPF Secretary General (8&+$57(52))81'$0(17$/5,*+76 The EU discussed the initiative of the Presidency for a Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to be submitted to the European Council in Cologne on 3/4 June 1999. According to the Presidency suggestions, the Charter could contain in particular the fundamental rights and freedoms as well as basic procedural rights guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and derived from constitutional tradition of Member States as general principles of Community law. It could also include the fundamental rights that pertain only to the Union's citizens and take into account economic and social rights as contained namely in the European Social Charter and the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers. The Presidency further suggests that the Cologne European Council should launch the process for the elaboration of such a Charter by setting up a convention composed of members of the European Parliament and the legislative bodies of Member States, representatives of Governments and the European Commission. This body could be requested to prepare a draft document for the European Council under the French Presidency in order to allow the solemn proclamation of a "European Charter of Fundamental Rights", and it could afterwards be considered how to integrate it into the Treaties. At the end of the debate the President thanked delegations for their contributions to both substantial and procedural questions which the Presidency will take into account in the further preparation of this matter. The President stated that he had got the firm impression that a consensus on the procedure to be followed for the elaboration of such a Charter should be possible. The Council agreed to revert to this matter at its next session on 31 May in the framework of the preparation of the Cologne European Council. It asked the Permanent Representatives Committee to prepare the discussion on 31 May on the basis of the Presidency draft for a decision of the European Council. ,167,787,21$/5()2506 The Council - on the basis of a Presidency working paper - held a first orientation debate on the questions on how and when to tackle institutional issues not resolved at Amsterdam such as the number of commissioners, the weighting of votes in the Council, the extension of qualified majority voting - to be settled before the next enlargement and any other possible questions relating to institutional reform. The Presidency also raised the question of the preparation of the forthcoming IGC, which appears to be closely linked to the question of its scope: technical preparation listing the problems and possible solutions already discussed in the past, setting up and mandate of a preparatory structure: wise men/man, government representatives ? As regards the timetable, the Presidency suggested to carry out preparatory work up until the Helsinki European Council and to finalise the Conference by the end of 2000. In conclusion of the debate, the President thanked delegations for their valuable and constructive contributions to this important subject. The Presidency, under its own responsibility, will take into account the remarks made by Member States in its further reflections. The Council agreed to continue its deliberations on these questions at its next session of 31 May with the aim of reaching an as broad as possible agreement on the preparation for the Cologne European Council. &20021(8523($132/,&<216(&85,7<$1''()(1&( The Council held a debate on the issue of a European policy on Security and Defence, on the basis of a draft Presidency report to the European Council, in accordance with the conclusions of the Vienna European Council. The Council will return to this issue at its next session on 31 May with a view to the Presidency finalising its report to the Cologne European Council of 3/4 June. 5(/$7,216:,7+5866,$ − &20021675$7(*< The Council, having confirmed its agreement on the draft Common Strategy of the European Union on Russia, recommended it to the European Council for adoption, thus reaffirming the importance of the strategic partnership between the Union and Russia which this first Common Strategy under the Treaty of Amsterdam seeks to enhance. − 6(&21'0((7,1*2)7+(&223(5$7,21&281&,/ The Council also adopted - without debate - the EU position to be taken at the 2nd Meeting of the Cooperation Council between the EU and Russia held in the afternoon of the same day (see separate Press Release, doc. 8283/99 Presse 152). (8865(/$7,216+25021(6',6387( The Council took note of a report by Vice-President BRITTAN on the latest developments in the dispute with the US over hormones . The Council, following its conclusions of 26 April 1999, underlined the sensitive nature of the dispute for all parties concerned and stressed the importance of handling this issue in a constructive and positive manner; The Council invited the Commission: - to intensify its contacts with the US and Canada on all aspects of this issue, and in particular to enter into detailed and transparent discussions on the basis of the scientific evidence available; In particular about contacts with the US and Canada in the margins of the Quadripartite Trade meeting in Tokyo last week. - in the event that the US or Canada seek authorization from the WTO to suspend concessions: a) to make further efforts to agree on compensation, and if necessary b) to request arbitration on the level of concessions; The Council also welcomed the intention of the Commission to study all the relevant available information in order to evaluate, with Member States, possible next steps taking into account the rights and obligations of the EU under the WTO, and to keep the Council fully informed. The Council also took note of a report by the Commission on the outcome of the ministerial meeting with the US, Canada and Japan in Tokyo on 11-12 May on the preparations for the Third WTO Ministerial Conference (Seattle, 30 November-3 December 1999). $&7,213/$1)255(&216758&7,212)&(175$/$0(5,&$&21&/86,216 1. The Council held a preliminary discussion on the Commission communication concerning a Community Action Plan for reconstruction in Central America. It supported the general outlines of the plan and the guidelines for its funding. Detailed examination of the communication will continue as soon as possible within the framework of development cooperation, in particular with regard to the arrangements and conditions for its implementation. 2. The Council restated its solidarity with the peoples of Central America affected by Hurricane Mitch in October and November 1998. 3. The Council welcomed the opportunity it would have to discuss the general outlines of this communication with the beneficiary countries at the San José XV Ministerial Conference in Bonn on 20 May 1999.