Laeken European Council (Hansard, 4 December 2001)

§ Mr. Spring
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the main objectives of the European Council's summit at Laeken [18896]

§ Peter Hain
The agenda for the European Council has not yet been finalised. But we expect it to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, and the EU follow up to the events of 11 September; review the situation in the western Balkans; debate the future of Europe and establish a convention to examine the options for the IGC in 2004; welcome progress on EU enlargement; adopt a presidency report on European defence; review progress on the Tampere justice and home affairs agenda; and note preparations for the launch of Euro notes and coins.

§ Mr. Spring
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement(a) on the membership of the convention due to be established at Laeken and (b) what the Government hope to achieve at the Laeken summit. [18895]

§ Peter Hain
Final decisions on the composition of the convention will be taken at the Laeken European Council. The convention will include representatives from national Governments, national Parliaments, the European Parliament and the Commission. The candidate states will be fully represented.
The Government expect that Laeken will thus launch the European level debate about the Future of Europe. It was agreed at Nice that this debate should consider how to improve and monitor the democratic legitimacy and transparency of the EU and its institutions, in order to bring them closer to the citizens of the members states. The Government welcome this.

§ Mr. Spring
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the Laeken European Council. [19091]

§ Peter Hain
The Government meet members of the Commission on a regular basis to discuss these and other issues.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also discussed issues to be addressed by the Laeken European Council with the President of the Commission on 15 November.