EU Intergovernmental Conference opened
Government Communications Unit
Press Release 201/2007
23 July 2007
On Monday, 23 July, the EU Member States opened the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) in conjunction with a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors represented Finland at the opening session.
During the Intergovernmental Conference, the Member States will negotiate and adopt amendments to be included in the existing EU Treaties. Portugal, the current Presidency country, convened the IGC.
Work at the IGC will be based on the mandate which the EU Heads of State or Government adopted at the European Council in Brussels on 21-23 June. The mandate very clearly defines and limits the changes that are to be made to the existing Treaties. It is the IGC's task to turn these changes into a Treaty amending the current Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC). TEC is to be called the Treaty on the Functioning of the Union.
In line with the mandate, the IGC is to finalise its work by the end of 2007. The aim of the Portuguese Presidency is that the informal meeting of the EU Heads of State or Government, scheduled to take place on 18-19 October, be able to adopt a Treaty agreed upon at the IGC. The Treaty is to be prepared by a group of legal experts beginning their work on 24 July. It is also possible that the issue is to be discussed at the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers on 8 September and at the Council on 15-16 October.
After the IGC has brought its work to a conclusion, the Treaty will be opened for signing. The signed Treaty must then be ratified by each Member State. According to the mandate, the objective is to have the new Treaty entered into force before the next elections to the European Parliament, to be held in June 2009.
On 29 June, the President of the Republic appointed a delegation to represent Finland at the IGC. Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors is the delegation's chairperson and State Secretary Teija Tiilikainen serves as its vice-chairperson.
In Finland’s opinion there is every possibility to keep up with the Presidency’s timetable. The work of the IGC will focus on legal aspects as the mandate agreed on at the June European Council is both precise and comprehensive.
Further information: Jari Luoto, State Secretary for EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2180, and Lauri Voionmaa, First Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5079