Intergovernmental Conference IGC: revision of the Treaties, the financial interests and the European Prosecutor

The committee adopted the report (under the consultation procedure) by Giorgios DIMITRAKOPOULOS (EPP/ED, GR) and Jo LEINEN (PES, D) containing Parliament's draft opinion on the IGC. The committee felt that the IGC agenda agreed at Helsinki did not comply with the protocol to the Amsterdam Treaty which provided for "a comprehensive review" of the provisions of the Treaties governing the institutions if enlargement were to result in an EU of more than twenty Member States. The opinion called for the Portuguese Presidency to abide by its commitment to propose to the Lisbon European Council other topics for inclusion on the IGC agenda - a possibility allowed for by the Helsinki conclusions - taking particular account of the proposals contained in Parliament's resolution of 18 November 1999. The opinion said that Parliament would state its priorities and lay down practical proposals to the IGC in a subsequent report. On the subject of Parliament's representation, the committee believed the EP should be present at all levels of the IGC, which would mean that its President should be able to take part in meetings of the European Council on the same footing as the Commission, and that Parliament's representatives should be allowed to attend ministerial meetings. In conclusion, the committee argued that it was essential for an IGC to take place but questioned the agenda adopted by the Helsinki European Council, which it felt could jeopardise the integration process. It wanted the Council to adopt an open attitude towards the Portuguese Presidency's proposals for broadening the IGC agenda. �