14 December 2007
The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have answered questions from journalists at the end of the European Council meeting in Brussels.
Parts of this transcript may have been edited
Read the transcript
Prime Minister:
Thank you very much for joining us at the end of this European Council meeting.
Today Europe moved on to discuss the challenges of jobs, prosperity, the environment, security and taking its responsibilities in Kosovo, in Iran and in Burma seriously. We agreed a declaration on the global changes that are necessary and the priorities for the next period of time. The new Presidencies for next year want to follow that agenda.
We also agreed specifically that it was time to move on from institutional changes. We agreed in those words the treaties, that the amending treaty provides a stable and lasting institutional framework. We expect no change in the foreseeable future so that the Union will be able to fully concentrate on other challenges ahead. I think that is an important statement about the important priorities for the future - we expect no change in the foreseeable future in the institutional framework.
Now as we moved on to discuss the other issues, and we took into account the decisions that have been made by the Foreign Affairs Council - and David Miliband is with us today - particularly on Iran, on Burma and on Kosovo, the first thing that we talked about was globalisation itself, and this is a time of financial turbulence and economic uncertainty. Europe is conscious of the need that we have to increase and strengthen financial and economic stability. In our declaration on globalisation we obviously agreed on the priority of economic reform but we also agreed on the next stage of the work for the European Union over the next few months, that we had to look at improving transparency in our financial markets, improve credit agencies in the way they work, reform our international institutions to deal with some of the problems that have arisen in the period of financial turbulence, and we discussed the injection of liquidity by the central banks, including the Bank of England, the Euro Bank and the Federal Reserve into the world economy. And we are to receive a report on measures that are necessary for greater international stability at our meeting in March.
We agreed also to follow the declaration on globalisation by setting up a new group. That group will look at trends over a 20 year period. It will concentrate specifically on challenges in the decade from 2020 - 2030. I think you know that the membership already includes 3 people led by Mr Gonzales. These members will look at how Europe can respond to some of the big challenges ahead, but it is a long term perspective and the specific concentration is on 2020 - 2030.
Now on Kosovo I think it was a very important discussion because we agreed that Europe had responsibilities it had to meet in Kosovo. We called of course for restraint on all sides. We want to work with both sides. The resolution of course of the UN, 1244 is a legal basis, it was confirmed by NATO Foreign Ministers and the whole of Europe wants to manage the next stage in Kosovo in a proactive and in a united way. We agreed to set up a European security and defence mission for Kosovo. This decision will be implemented following the next meeting of the Foreign Ministers. Following the failure of the Troika to agree the best way forward for Kosovo, I think it is important that the decisions of the European Union signal not only the responsibilities we accept in Kosovo, but that a European mission will be there.
Can I just add two other points? On Iran we agreed we have no assurances about uranium enrichment and the purpose of it in Iran. There is no evidence of a civil nuclear programme and therefore the uranium enrichment that has been part of the work of Iran is a problem for the international community. We will fight for a further UN resolution on these issues and of course consider further sanctions n the matter.
We also agreed strong measures on Burma, that unless action is taken we will be prepared to have further sanctions.
So this is a European Summit where we have discussed the issues of global security, global economics and global prosperity. We have taken our responsibilities seriously in the areas I have just described in foreign affairs. We have decided that institutional change is not what we are going to debate in the next few years, we are going to debate the issues of the economy, of security and of the environment, and I believe that we have made great progress at the summit today.
David and I will be very happy to answer any Questions.
Question:
You say the Reflections group will have no remit to consider institutional change, and the last time you mentioned this, some people will interpret that as no more integration. Is that what you mean as well - no more integration?
Prime Minister:
What I mean is that Europe has been discussing for some years now institutional changes that have led to the amending treaty. These changes were necessary because we were moving to a Europe of 27. But what people are looking to Europe to do is to help provide jobs, increase prosperity, improve the environment, deal with climate change, help to make for greater security, and that is going to be the concentration of Europe in the years to come. And I think when the European Union makes a declaration in its conclusions - no change for the foreseeable future in the institutional framework - I think that is a big statement about the priority we now attach to jobs, prosperity, security and the environment, and that is certainly the priority of this government.
Question:
And is that the same as no more integration?
Prime Minister:
It is the same as saying that there is going to be no more institutional change over the next period of time, having gone through a number of treaties and a number of measures of institutional change to make possible 27 people joining the Union, it is time to focus on the economy, on security, on the environment. And in fact the focus today on some of the turbulence in global financial markets, and what we can do with the international coordination that is now concerted, is an important signal of the measures and the agendas that will be part of the European Union discussions in future months.
Question:
Prime Minister: do you regret that you were unable to play a full part in yesterday’s events? Do you feel that there was anything to celebrate in Lisbon, and if so what?
Prime Minister:
I was pleased to go to Lisbon yesterday and to be at the signing of the treaty. And as you know, I signed the treaty, and David and I both played our part in the events of yesterday, and the treaty is an important stage for the European Union because it recognises that we have had to make big institutional changes to make possible 27 members in the European Union. I of course have my other responsibilities, that I agreed I think on November 5th, right at the beginning of November, to go and speak to the House of Commons Select Committee, and that is the reason why I was late. But it is an important stage forward for the European Union, I think an important stage today that we are talking about the big issues of jobs, prosperity, security and the environment, and I think the decisions we are making today about how we deal with global financial turbulence, how we deal with the challenges of Kosovo, Iran and Burma, these are all very important milestones in the development of the European Union and the focus that there will be in future years on job security and the environment and these issues that I think concern the people of Europe most.
Question:
Some people back home have suggested that the fact that you weren’t able to make the signing yesterday shows that you aren’t showing Europe is a big a enough priority. What would you say to them?
Prime Minister:
Europe is a very big priority and what we have been discussing today is very important to the British people. I think the first discussion on the economy and on the challenges of globalisation shows that you do need international coordination and cooperation to deal with some of the events that have arisen as a result of the global turbulence of the summer. And I am very pleased that Europe is now going to look at some of the big issues that we need to deal with: greater transparency; how credit agencies are operating; how we can reform some of the international institutions to make them better; and whether there is a need for greater coordination on economic policy. So these are issues where the cooperation of all the member states of Europe is an important element in doing our best for prosperity for the British people, and I think today was an important signal that we have put institutional change behind us, no change in the institutional framework expected for the foreseeable future, but we can now deal successfully and in a cooperative way with all the major issues of job security and the environment.
Question:
Prime Minister millions of people in Britain watched yesterday as you signed the treaty in Lisbon. Two Question:s if I may: first, do you regret not giving the people a referendum on the treaty; and secondly, will you change your mind at the eleventh hour and give the people a say?
Prime Minister:
If we were joining the euro there would have been a referendum. If it was the older treaty that was abandoned last summer there would have been a referendum, but because we were successful in negotiating the red lines and the changes in the amending treaty, that means it is not a constitutional treaty in the way that was described before, there is no need for that referendum. And I think when the British people look at the detail of this amending treaty, which will be debated in great precision in the House of Commons, they will see that there is no fundamental constitutional change involved, whether it is on the issues of the Charter of Individual Rights where there is a protocol which protects the interests of Britain, or whether it is on other issues where we have negotiated on justice and home affairs opt-ins and opt-outs, then the British people are properly protected. And I believe that this is what the British people want us to do. So we have an amending treaty, not a constitutional treaty. If we were joining the euro or if there was any proposal to do so, or if it were the old treaty there would be a referendum, but we have succeeded, as we have said we would want to do in achieving our red lines. And the treaty is good for the institutional development of the European Union but it does not raise fundamental constitutional Question:s in the way that previous discussions had.
Question:
The Conservatives have said this afternoon that you have opened up a Pandora’s Box by allowing this committee of wise men or women to be formed. And isn’t it just the kind of institutional navel gazing that you have been arguing against? And finally are you clear in your own mind that this committee will not discuss the issue of enlargement and Turkish membership?
Prime Minister:
This committee, by the way, was announced at the previous European Council. There is nothing new about the committee itself. What is new is the three names that are associated with its development. As far as the remit of the committee is concerned, institutional issues are not part of its remit. It is looking for example at the environment, at security issues, at economic issues. One of the reasons we have the former head of Nokia, who is also the Chairman of Shell, now sitting as one of the Vice Presidents of this committee is that he is going to be looking at the big economic challenges. And if you look carefully at the remit - so that nobody misunderstands it - it is looking at trends in Europe from 2020 to 2030. In other words it is a reflections group taking a long term perspective looking at economic security and environmental issues, and debarred from its remit is the very institutional Question:s that you have raised in your Question:. So I hope that becomes absolutely clear. But the purpose of this is to look for long term trends and forces on economics, environment and security issues and it is not dealing with institutional change at all.
Question:
In some quarters there is great speculation that the word accession has been removed from Council conclusions, and there is concern about the remit of the reflections group. Inevitably if it looks forward to 2020 Turkey may come under its remit. Are you sure that Turkish accession is still on track?
Prime Minister:
I think the Foreign Secretary will deal with the specifics of this because this has been looked at over a period of time. Let’s be absolutely clear. The Wise Group - as it was called originally - the Reflections Group, was announced at the last Council. What is announced today are the three people who are associated with the Presidency of the group, and what is also announced is the narrowness of the remit that excludes the institutional Question:s that people have been suggesting are part of its remit. It is a good thing when the European Union can look 10, 20 years ahead at some of the environmental, economic and security challenges that face us, and that is one of the reasons, as I repeat, why the former head of Nokia and the Chairman of Shell is one of the most important members of this group, it is to look at economic, environmental and security challenges.
Foreign Secretary:
Just to pick up your point, you will see that accession is mentioned in the second paragraph of the introductory remarks in respect of enlargement. Also mentioned, very importantly, is next week’s Accession Conference, it is called an Intergovernmental Conference, just to confuse things, but don’t get too excited about that, it is not a new treaty revision that is coming out of that but it is dedicated towards the Turkish issue. Two new chapters will be opened next week so I think that is an important part of this as well and so it very much is on track. And finally you will see in the conclusions of the General Affairs Council a very clear commitment from all 27 countries that we will proceed "in line with the 2006 enlargement strategy" - and that is spelt out in black and white and I think is a very clear signal to all of our colleagues who have got accession aspirations that we are very much committed to the work that we have committed to with them.
Question:
Prime Minister: there has been a perception expressed by commentators over a number of years that people think you don’t like coming to Brussels, having meetings with other European leaders, that this isn’t something that motivates and inspires you. Would you like to take the opportunity to correct that impression, tell us what you enjoy about summits like this and what you get out of them?
Prime Minister:
Well yes I would actually. I have been coming to Brussels as a Minister since 1997. I have probably attended as many, perhaps more, meetings than any other Minister because I was on the European Finance Ministers group, it met regularly once a month and I have seen all the changes that have taken place over the last 10 years when I have been attending meetings here, and under many, many Presidencies, including our own. What I find exciting about the future, and the discussions that we have had today, is that we are now addressing the big challenges that everyone throughout the whole of Europe knows we have got to face: how we become more prosperous in a global economy; how we create the jobs that are necessary, with the skills that we need for the future; how we deal with the climate change challenges, today being discussed in Bali, but where the European Union has a distinctive position and can make advances over the next few years; how we deal with some of the problems of international terrorism by cooperating together to do so. And I think the declaration on globalisation, which shows not only our interest in Europe, but Britain is prepared to take the lead in pushing for these Question:s to be right at the centre of the agenda. The declaration on globalisation today is a significant step forward because what it is really saying is here are the priorities for the years to come - the economy, security, environment - meeting all these challenges. And of course when we look at the global financial turbulence that exists at the moment, and the challenges we face on the international economy, the very fact you have had coordinated central bank intervention over the last few days that has involved the Euro Bank, the Swiss Bank, the Bank of England, and of course the Federal Reserve Bank, shows the need for international cooperation to deal with what are trends in the international economy which force us into cooperation and cooperation is the right policy. So I am excited by the challenges that we face in the future and my discussions today with European leaders, as yesterday with the Presidency of the European Union, I believe reflect that new agenda and that agenda is not any longer about institutional change because that has been decided, it is now about jobs, prosperity, security and the environment, and that is where all our energies will be focused.
Question:
There may yet be a deal in Bali but obviously those talks are proving extremely problematic. Do you accept the view of Al Gore and many other people there that actually the US government position is largely behind those difficulties?
Prime Minister:
I want an agreement in Bali where everybody can move forward together. I don’t think anybody expects the Bali conclusions to be the final word on this. What you are talking about is two weeks of negotiations to prepare for what will eventually be two years of discussions to a final agreement. Now I want all the countries - developed and developing countries - to be involved. I want all the issues on the table, for the first time for example forestry which accounts for 20% of carbon emissions, that is on the table and we have made proposals yesterday about how we can help deal with the aforestation problem which does threaten to cause higher carbon emissions. Now it is too early to say what the final decisions are going to be from this particular session in Bali, but I hope, just as the European Union today has expressed the hope, that all sides can come together, agree an agenda, work through that agenda and eventually have an agreement that all countries - rich and poor in the world - can subscribe to. Now that is what we will continue to work towards.
Question:
A Question: on Kosovo perhaps for the Foreign Secretary Mr Miliband. The Prime Minister: was saying that there has been agreement on a European mission to go to Kosovo that is to be implemented after the next meeting of Foreign Ministers. Can you say specifically what that means? Does that mean they are going to Kosovo? When? And are they there to implement the Atisari plan?
Foreign Secretary:
I think there was a real feeling of Europe coming together today among the 27 Heads and Foreign Ministers. Certainly the comparison with my first meetings at the Foreign Ministers Council in July when you had a very, very wide spectrum of opinion, today I felt that there was a real sense first that it was clear that more talking would not be the answer, that no-one could have gone further than the Troika to bridge the difference between sides; and secondly, that this was Europe’s backyard and Europe had to take a lead; thirdly, that although we already have 200 European officials working and preparing, we need to formally commit today to an ESDP mission but the details of it do need to be worked out according to the situation on the ground. And I think it is very, very important to recognise that we could have been having this situation at this meeting today in a situation of violence in Kosovo - and we haven’t. We have got a situation where both sides have acted with restraint since December 10th - which I applaud. Both sides have committed to the Troika representatives that they will not resort to violence or resort to violence from their supporters - that is very, very important as well. And so when we say the details will be worked out by Foreign Ministers, that is precisely what we mean, they will be there to ensure that as the political decisions go forward the official machines works forward as well. In terms of the timing, I think that there has been, as a result of the commitments that have been made by the Kosovo side, and also some announcements in Serbia, it is important to see that we are now talking about a process of months rather than days and I think that is also an important source of stability in the western Balkans. So you have got attention from Foreign Ministers this month and last month, but continued attention during January and February, and we are going to be working to make sure that the EU mission dovetails very, very carefully with the NATO mission and obviously builds on the EU mission that is already there.
Prime Minister:
And this was specifically, as David has said, an agreement today that there will be a mission. There is no doubt about that. Although the Troika’s discussions did not lead to results, everybody agrees that the situation was unsustainable and that the EU mission is very much part of the next stage.
Question:
You have talked a lot about global stability and the turbulent times facing the economy next year, are you at all concerned that Europe might take the wrong path and embark down a path of protectionism, particularly with the French Presidency?
Prime Minister:
I think one of the important parts of the statement today is a declaration that Europe is going to play its part in an open trading system throughout the world and I think people recognise that globalisation succeeds in benefiting European citizens if Europe participates in trade agreements with Asia, but of course with every part of the world. And that is why so much emphasis is being placed by all of us in Europe in getting a world trade agreement. I think the most exciting thing about the declaration on globalisation and our discussion on the international economy is that there is a new recognition that you do need greater international cooperation to get results. And if one of the problems of August was a recognition that while national governments could know something of what was happening in their countries, they did not know what was happening in all the different continents where global economic activity was taking place.
I think there is now a new recognition about the need for international economic cooperation, so the Financial Stability Forum, the International Monetary Fund, the Bank of International Settlements are now all involved in discussing with us how we can get a better way forward for greater financial stability, for more transparency, which of course is an issue that has actually arisen from the events of recent months, and then potentially for the international cooperation that we saw this week when we had liquidity injected into the world economy, about 100 billions of liquidity, by the combined operation of a number of central banks.
Question:
On institutional change, how long is the foreseeable future? Is it the ten years that you have hinted at previously, is it shorter than that, and would you like it to be longer than that?
Prime Minister:
Well the new amending treaty, once it is finally ratified, and of course every country has to ratify it, will not finally come into full operation until 2017. The discussion today was a recognition that there was no demand for further institutional change but the framework for institutional change was stable and lasting and that there was no need for change in the foreseeable future. Now I think that is a very important statement which you have never really had before following previous treaties in the European Union. Nobody has been prepared to say that before because there has always been unfinished business that they have been trying, or some people have been trying to put on the agenda. But everybody agreed unanimously on a statement that said no further institutional change for the foreseeable future, and I think that is an important declaration, not only about the end of a process of institutional change, but also about the new priorities. And I repeat, they are about jobs, prosperity, environment and security, and that is what all the discussion today in our European Council meeting was about, and that is a reflection already of a changed world, changed priorities and Europe moving on to work for greater prosperity for its citizens and greater security for all its people.
Question:
Do you have any concerns as to the remit of the reflections group? And secondly, Peter Mandelson said today that you appeared to be on the back foot on Europe after yesterday’s signing. How do you respond to that?
Prime Minister:
Well I think we are very much on the front foot with the declaration of globalisation that was a British proposal and has been agreed by the whole of the European Council. And I think we have very much been leading the debate about European financial and economic stability and how we can cooperate internationally to do so. I think you may also remember that we published only a few weeks ago what we called Global Europe - our proposals for the next stage of European economic social and environmental development and it has now a set of proposals that I believe is having some influence on the debate that is taking place in Europe. And I think if you went to any press conference that was taking place here today, people are talking about not just Kosovo, Iran and Burma where we have made important decisions for the European Union, but about the declaration on globalisation and where that leads us to building for greater prosperity for the peoples of Europe. As far as the Reflections group, let me just repeat it is called the Reflections Group, it was decided and announced at the previous Council. All we have done today is announce the three chair people of the group. Obviously we will want there to be a British person on the group and I think it is very important to say that this is a group that is not looking at today or tomorrow, and not looking at institutional change at all but looking at trends in Europe from 2020 - 2030. And if you look at the declaration setting it up, it says specifically these things, there is absolutely no doubt about, and anybody who tries to suggest this is either new because it has been announced before or that it is something that it is not, an institutional focus for the next 10 or 20 years is completely wrong, it is about economic, environmental and security challenges - 2020 to 2030 - and it may or may not be interesting in its conclusions for all of you sitting here.
Question:
When you say that we think there should be more sanctions against Iran, are you talking about we Britain, or are you talking about we the EU?
Prime Minister:
Well I have already said a few weeks ago that we are prepared to support oil and gas sanctions and more financial service sanctions in Iran. I think we have got to recognise that the problem that we are dealing with, and have been dealing with, has not changed - it is the enrichment of uranium against international agreements, against promises that have been made, done secretly and of course subject to three UN resolutions which have been breached. And that is why David and the other Foreign Ministers have been taking up this issue within the European Union because all members of the European Union feel concerned about a country that breaks its promises to the international community and is of course as a result of Mr Solana’s talks with us, has not convinced us that it is changing its ways. Now there is a place for Iran in the international community, we would welcome them into cultural, political, economic cooperation, but Iran has got to play by the rules and the rules are that they are part of an international agreement that said that these things wouldn’t be happening.
Foreign Secretary:
Can I just add to that that I think we shouldn’t lose the significance of the fact that a discussion on Iran - which has been a regular feature of Foreign Ministers meetings - has now moved to the European Council itself, and you can look at the detail that has been set out in the conclusions that are published now this afternoon. I think that in the light of some of the commentary on the national intelligence estimate, the conclusions are particularly significant because they make absolutely clear that the whole of the European Union, not just the E3, but the whole of the European Union want to see Iran as a proud and respected member of the international community, but are also equally clear that it is not yet playing by the rules and the enrichment and the missile testing, of which Iran boasts, are significant sources of instability in the Middle East and therefore it is absolutely right I think that the whole of the European Union sends a very, very clear signal about its seriousness of purpose in this area. And I think the fact that it should come from 27 Heads of Government of the European Union is something that I hope will be noticed around the world.
Question:
On Iran do you think the US national intelligence estimate was unhelpful in terms of trying to develop agreement on new sanctions? And if I may on the wise men, it is interesting hearing you after listening to President Sarkozy next door, he talked about it in very different terms, he talked about developing a new European dream, he talked about political union, these kinds of things. What do you think about discussing new European dreams and do you have one yourself?
Prime Minister:
What has happened in Iran and over Iran over recent days has not changed the central problem. The central problem is the enrichment of uranium in a situation where there is no civil nuclear purpose that can be detected that Iran is pursuing. And as David has said, that is in breach of all the international agreements that have previously been made and that is the problem that the international community has been dealing with for months now, and that problem has not changed. And I think it is very important to recognise that the reason there are sanctions, the reason there is the proposal for a third resolution, the reason that there are concerns in the European Union that were expressed unanimously today, is that against all promises and against all treaty agreements, Iran is enriching uranium where there is no civil nuclear purpose appearing to be there. And that is the issue that we will continue to deal with and that hasn’t changed at all in the last few days.
Question:
Is the US National Intelligence Estimate unhelpful in trying to prevent Iranian proliferation.
Prime Minister:
The intelligence estimate is the intelligence estimate that has been published, but it is not about the enrichment of uranium. That is a fact that has been established, that is why Mr Solana is meeting the Iranians, that is why unfortunately he has had to report back that he has made no progress with the Iranians on this issue. And that is the reason for the economic sanctions and that is the reason why we continue to look at sanctions. As far as the group is concerned I just ask you to look at the test that has been agreed on this. It is about a review of aspects of globalisation and security issues related to 2020 - 2030, and as I said it is a very important area to look at, but it is long term, it does not include institutional change.
Question:
Coming back to Kosovo, if I might. Two questions: first of all, is there now a common EU position on whether or not the EU should recognise independence if Kosovo were to declare it; and secondly, Russia has said that the EU cannot send a mission into Kosovo under the terms of UN Resolution 1244, so what is the EU’s stance on that? Can the mission actually go ahead without UN backing?
Foreign Secretary:
On the first point, recognition is a matter for countries, not for the European Union. Each country of the European Union will need to make a decision about whether or not to recognise a declaration of independence from Kosovo if it comes. So what we have decided today is the over-arching European policy approach, which I think is important and which is shared by all 27 and which is for the European Union to be a force for stability in the western Balkans. Secondly, in respect of the European mission we are absolutely clear that the legal base for continued action in Kosovo, first of all by NATO and now by the European Union, is provided by UN Resolution 1244. And I defy anyone to point to a single word in the Resolution 1244 which precludes the sort of political discussions about status that are now under discussion. That resolution is absolutely clear about the political process that was opened up - and I say opened up advisedly. It is also clear, both to NATO Ministers and to European Ministers, that there is a continuing legal base for action and there is an obvious political base given the horrors of the 1990s that some European Ministers who are here today lived through, and which many European citizens will remember as quite a shameful part of European history.
Question:
One final Question: on Iran. Did you discuss unilateral EU sanctions against Iran?
Foreign Secretary:
That was not the focus today. The focus today was on the next steps for the whole of the international community. Obviously the EU has established its own pattern of sanctions. EU trade with Iran, I think I am right in saying, was down 34% in the year to May 2007. All European countries are taking a very serious approach to this and I think that the next focus will be on the UN Security Council which is going to be the next focus for discussion.
Prime Minister:
And remember this was a clear unanimous position agreed by the European Council, all the Heads of Government, about the importance we attach to the next UN resolution on sanctions.
Question:
Are you worried by Russia’s decision to ban the British Council?
Foreign Secretary:
I think if you keep your eyes on the Presidency website, either today or at the beginning of next week, you will see a very clear statement on this issue. Many Foreign Ministers raised with me yesterday actually their concern about what all of us perceive to be an illegal Russian move in violation of the 1963 Vienna Declaration on Cultural Exchange. For our part, I think it is very, very important that we sent a message, if I may say so, especially through you, that cultural exchange between Britain and Russia is something that we celebrate. We look forward to the Russian Masters Exhibition coming to the United Kingdom, there is great interest in that sort of cultural exchange. And I cannot conceive what benefit there is from the Russian government in closing down British Council offices outside Moscow, in Katharinaberg and St Petersburg. The people who lose from these measures are Russian citizens who want to know more about British culture and of course the Russian government which is seen in the eyes of the international community as clamping down on an independent cultural institution that is widely recognised around the world for the quality of its work.
Prime Minister:
And I have talked to many Heads of Government today who are angry at what has happened. The Presidency statement will reflect that anger. This is completely unacceptable and unjustifiable behaviour and I think everybody I talked to recognises that the British Council does a great job culturally in every part of the world and should not be excluded from the job it is doing to promote relationships in Russia and to promote culture generally. This is not acceptable behaviour.
Question:
I would just like to be clear, you seem very clear about no more institutional change, does that mean that that is a guarantee that there will be no further discussion of institutional change during the next decade.
Prime Minister:
The new Treaty is the framework of institutional change for the future, which is what the amending treaty is about. Nobody is proposing we go back to having another amending treaty over the next few years. When people talk about no change for the foreseeable future they mean no changes in that institutional framework. That has already been decided. Europe is now able to work within the institutions that have been created to deal with an enlarged European Union. The whole focus of Europe is going to be on jobs, prosperity, the environment and security. And if I may just may emphasise at this point, when it comes to the Council, the next meeting of the Council in March, almost at the top of the agenda will be our review of what is happening in the European and world economy. We are going to be looking at issues of transparency, at credit agencies, at the injection of liquidity into the economy, about how the European economy can work better in the light of the financial events of the last few months, and I believe that the theme of the next Council and the future Councils will be about the economy, environment and security. That is the declaration that was made today.
Prime Minister:
Thank you all very much, thanks for joining us in Brussels. To those who I won’t see, have a Happy Christmas.
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