WRITTEN QUESTION E-1171/02 by Carmen Cerdeira Morterero (PSE) to the Commission. European Union participation at international summits.
Date: 2002-04-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: international meeting, protocol, the EU's international role

C 52 E/44

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

DG Budget. The Commission will also, at a consolidated level, take note of reservations entered and will
comment on the proposed solutions and timeframes and adopt a list of measures to resolve the problems
identified, including on the findings of the Internal Audit Service. It will make choices in the event of
incoherence or conflict between proposed corrective action by the Authorising Officers by delegation.

(1) SEC(2001) 2037-4.

(2003/C 52 E/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1171/02

by Carmen Cerdeira Morterero (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: European Union participation at international summits

(24 April 2002)

Would the Commission consider it useful for a guide or protocol to be prepared for the improved
participation and coordination of representatives of the European institutions (Commission, Council,
Parliament) at events such as international conferences, of which an example is the March 2002 Monterrey
International Conference on Financing for Development, and also at other types of meeting where we
attend as a ‘European Union delegation’ or ‘European Community delegation’?

Does the Commission believe that such a protocol would help to maximise the efforts of all the members
of the above-mentioned delegations, as well as to raise their profile?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2002)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s concern that the Union should speak with one voice on
the international stage and more generally in its relations with third countries.

There is actually no difficulty with the coordination of the Community position and singleness of its
representation in matters covered by the first pillar, such as the common commercial policy. As was seen
at
is because the
Community speaks with one voice that it has become an essential player in international trade.

the World Trade Organisation in Doha,

the Fourth Ministerial Conference of

it

The situation is less satisfactory, however, in the other areas of external relations, owing to the increased
number of players provided for in the existing Treaties and the confusion that can ensue.

As the Commission stated in its communication of 22 May 2002 on a project for the European Union (1),
we should take advantage of the future reform of the Treaties to simplify and rationalise the whole of the
Union’s foreign policy and thus make it more efficient, in accordance with the wishes of the European
citizen.

Participation by the Community delegations in international conferences is in most cases dependent on the
Community’s status at the conference in question (e.g. participant without voting rights, observer with
speaking rights, etc.).

For these reasons, it will be difficult to draw up a protocol for improving the participation of Community
delegations.

On the other hand,
international conferences.

there are rules of procedure for participation by the different

institutions in

(1)

‘A project for the European Union’, Commission Communication of 22 May 2002 to the European Convention
(COM(2002) 247 final).