EU Foreign Ministers meet in Brussels on 17-18 May 2004 for the next step in the IGC negotiations. In preparation, the Irish Presidency issued two new documents on 13 May that resulted from a Focus points meeting.
Document CIG 76/04 contains the provisions of the Constitution on which the Presidency states that a broad consensus emerged among experts the focal points meeting on 4 May. Article III-179 (ex 152) stays as it was in document CIG 73/04 (for a through analysis of this document, please read EPHA’s article "Presidency publishes new text for IGC discussions").
Document CIG 75/04 highlights the points on which agreement still needs to be found. Public health is not mentioned here, as it is considered ’closed’ by the Irish Presidency.
However, media reports at the end of the first day of discussions indicate that agreement was not reached on key issues already considered closed by the Irish Presidency, and doubts have been raised about whether the deadline of the June summit can be met. Of particular concern is the fragile Polish government, which has lost one vote of confidence in Warsaw and faces another in June.
Member States meet again on 18 May to discuss the new voting system and the proposed changes to the European Commission.
The Irish Presidency have committed themselves to completing the IGC by the Brussels summit on 17 June 2004. Foreign Ministers have already scheduled a new meeting for May 24.
