European Council in Thessaloniki on 19 and 20 June 2003
Government Information Unit Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Press release 177/2003
12 June 2003
On Thursday, 12 June 2003, the Government announced Finland's representation at the Thessaloniki European Council that will take place on 19 and 20 June 2003. Prime Minister Anneli Jäätteenmäki, accompanied by Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, will attend the European Council. The President of the Republic, Tarja Halonen, will attend the European Council when the meeting is dealing with matters within her purview.
The meeting will focus on the results of the work carried out in the European Convention and the discussion will be based on a report from the President of the European Convention, Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. The intention is not to comment on the content of the proposal put forward by the Convention, as this will be an issue to be discussed later in the Intergovernmental Conference. The Thessaloniki European Council is to make decisions only on the timetable and working methods of the next Intergovernmental Conference. The meeting may also propose that the European Convention be granted extra time to finalise Part III of the Draft Constitutional Treaty relating to the legal bases for the policy sectors.
Another key item on the agenda will be immigration and asylum policy. Commission has prepared three communications that centre on the financing of the immigration and asylum policy and burden-sharing mechanism at external borders, on international protection and on integration. The meeting will also discuss the proposal for the establishment of financial mechanisms to facilitate the return of illegally residing immigrants and to intensify control at external borders. In addition, the meeting will consider new ways to examine asylum applications, in particular, on the basis of the initiative put forward by the UK.
The meeting will also discuss relations between the EU and the Western Balkan countries, and the progress of the enlargement process in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. Moreover, the European Council will endorse the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines and the revised European Employment Strategy.
As regards external relations, the Council is likely to discuss the situation in Iraq, the Middle East peace process and transatlantic relations. High Representative Javier Solana will present the first draft of the EU's Security Strategy to the meeting.
Finland will, the negotiation conditions allowing, aim to re-open discussion on the location of the European Food Safety Authority.
A separate summit relating to the Western Balkans will be held in Thessaloniki on Saturday, 21 June.
Further information: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2182