DUFF MEETS IRISH PRESIDENCY ON IGC

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Press release: Embargo, Immediate Tuesday 6 January 2004

DUFF MEETS IRISH PRESIDENCY ON IGC

Andrew Duff MEP and Elmar Brok MEP have had meetings in Dublin yesterday, Monday 5 January, with Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen and senior officials. The purpose of the meetings was to take forward the process of the Intergovernmental Conference.

Commenting on the meetings, Andrew Duff said:

"We are asking for a clear timetable and plan of action from the Irish Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Aherne, when he presents his programme to the Parliament next Wednesday, 15 January.

"It is essential not to lose momentum in the IGC. Failure will have disastrous political and constitutional consequences for the enlarged European Union.

"We have called on the Presidency to hold a meeting of the IGC during the General Affairs Council scheduled for 26 January and to set a provisional date for a decisive IGC meeting at the level of heads of state or government towards the end of April.

"We were also able to emphasise that the Convention's text must remain the basis for agreement at the IGC.

"We had a useful exchange of views about where possible compromises were to be found and what they might entail.

"The Irish Presidency is in an excellent position to broker a successful settlement of the outstanding constitutional issues. Agreement is closer at hand than people think."

ENDS