Official Report 210KB pdf
The "Brussels Bulletin" covers some of the same territory as the previous paper from a different point of view. The bulletin contains a lot of useful information that could be connected to some of the points that we have already made about how we handle such information. However, we are certainly getting plenty of information.
It is important to place on record that, as I understand it, 23 out of 27 countries have ratified the treaty. We are waiting for the Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden and Ireland to ratify it.
Irene, can you confirm whether, if Ireland does not vote again or votes the wrong way the next time, the treaty will simply be enacted?
What I can confirm is that positive attitudes to the EU stood at 70 per cent in Ireland—even among "no" voters—and that 63 per cent of "no" voters in Ireland believe that the EU is a good thing. I am very encouraged by that.
Okay, we now have the gist of the different points of view—and I am sorry I mentioned the issue.
This point relates to a point that I raised earlier about the works councils directive. A conference took place recently; will we receive more information on the outcome of the conference?
Yes.
That is fine.
We should also note that there will be a green paper on territorial cohesion; it will be about reducing the inequalities between the rich and poor regions of Europe. The Brussels officer has noted that a rapporteur has been appointed and that the first reading in the European Parliament will take place during January 2009. This is another issue that it would be good to keep a close eye on.
We will be doing an inquiry on the budget, so I presume that the issue will be related to that, at least in part.
It will be related, but territorial cohesion is a huge subject in its own right.
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